Research shows that psychotherapy works for most people. The data suggests that over 90 percent of people improve in psychotherapy. They improve on the specific problems that bring them into therapy, as well as on things like coping with everyday stress, enjoying life more, ability to relate to others, personal growth and understanding, and self-esteem and confidence.

FACTORS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Research also shows what factors make a difference in psychotherapy:

  • The quality of the relationship between therapist and client is critical.

  • People who shop carefully for a therapist do better.

  • People who are active participants in their therapy do better.

  • No one model of treatment is significantly better than any other.

  • No type of psychotherapist does significantly better than any other type (in other words, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers tend to do equally well as providers).   

  • Long-term therapy produces significantly more improvement than short-term therapy.

  • People whose treatment is limited by their insurance coverage do worse.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous can actually produce better outcomes than psychotherapy, so consider a 12-step program, if it’s appropriate.

RISKS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

Every effective treatment has some elements of risk involved, which can be minimized by working with an experienced and qualified therapist and by a thorough assessment of each client for appropriateness for treatment. Risks include:

  • Psychotherapy may stir up painful feelings, which can be uncomfortable and may worsen symptoms in the short term. Learning to deal with uncomfortable emotions is an important goal in therapy.

  • During the course of psychotherapy, questions may come up about life choices and relationship patterns. This may lead to some discomfort, as people come to terms with their discoveries and make decisions about the future. The therapy should provide people with a safe environment to explore their choices for the future and the potential impact of their decisions.

  • As psychotherapy unfolds, people may feel disappointment, frustration, or anger toward the therapist. This is uncomfortable but occurs in any relationship. This circumstance presents an opportunity for people to learn about themselves and strengthen their ability to problem solve in a relationship. It becomes important to discuss these feelings with your therapist.