Community psychological perspective of psychotherapy: A contradiction?

Evidence indicates the need for including environments and contexts as a focus for psychotherapy; however, the field continues to neglect these elements. The consideration of effective psychotherapeutic processes also tends to lack a prevention-based value orientation. This article provides a first step for closing this gap, by including value-driven and contextually oriented theoretical approaches (e.g. ecological models, recovery models, capability approach, sense of community, empowerment) that are essential for psychotherapy in a community psychology perspective. As a second step, this article emphasizes the need for integrating psychotherapeutic interventions with different preventive strategies. Finally, the article summarizes the additional value that community psychological factors bear for increasing treatment efficacy.