Abstract

I developed the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP: McCullough, 1984, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2019) to specifically treat Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) (APA, 2013). CBASP is an interpersonal model of psychotherapy, and it has achieved empirically validated status in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. After personally treating over 400 PDD patients, participating as Principal Investigator in four national randomized clinical trials enlisting 2200 PDD outpatients, and training/supervising hundreds of professionals to administer CBASP, I wanted to write a non-research study article1 discussing the optimal therapist role characteristics of CBASP professionals. The paper is written from the perspective of the originator of CBASP.