The most obvious one is managed care's focus on cutting costs through brief therapy. The second factor is therapists' sincere efforts to help clients in the most efficient way to reduce unnecessary suffering. The third factor is the joining of the forces of the psycho-pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry to reduce the source of all suffering to the biological level. Psychotropic drugs promise almost instant cures for depression, anxiety, insomnia, phobias and almost any other human ailment. This inevitably leads to the quick pill-type solution while filling the coffers of the drug companies and medicating psychiatrists.
Financial pressure is the fourth element in therapists turning to quick fixes.
Many therapists wish to financially ride the latest quick fix fad, not because it is helpful but because it sells. Finally, the fast paced culture at large and people's increasing impatience and desire for instant gratification have also put intense pressure on therapists to provide quick and tangible results. While many therapists have not elected to speed up at all cost and are able to employ long or short term work as necessary, regretfully many other therapists have chosen to permanently stay in fast gear. In essence, these therapists are offering a treatment that reinforces the problem. I probably could save a couple of hours a year if I didn't spend the time buckling my seat belt.