Millions of Americans go to talk therapy. But does it work? That is a surprisingly difficult question to answer.
Talk therapy is of great benefit to some, but not to everyone, so it may not work for you, my colleague Susan Dominus wrote for The New York Times Magazine’s Therapeutic Issuespublished this week.
Researchers were able to come to that conclusion only relatively recently. Since the time of Sigmund Freud, the field of psychotherapy has resisted, even hostile to, the evaluation of its methods through empirical studies. “When I graduated from my psychoanalytic training, a surveillance analyst said to me, ‘Your analysis will save you from research,’” said Andrew Gerber, president of a treatment center psychiatry in Connecticut, told The Times.
That resistance has waned over the past few decades, leading to hundreds of clinical trials. The results have been mixed. Some studies have found that therapy has a better chance of helping than not. Other research has shown more limited results, suggesting that the therapy helps some patients but not many or even most.
Why? It is likely to come down to personal preference. A therapist or type of therapist that’s right for one person may not be right for another person’s personality or problems. So a study looking at whether a type of therapy is effective will likely produce limited results, regardless of how well that therapy works for some individuals.
And for some people, talk therapy may never be appropriate for other forms of help, such as medication.
Some experts have drawn a disappointing conclusion. “We’ve probably reached the limit of what you can do when you talk to someone,” said David Tolin, director of another treatment center in Connecticut. “Perhaps it will only get so good.” Others are now trying to harness the evidence to improve talk therapy and find ways to connect patients with the type of therapy that works best for them.
Speaking to researcher Timothy Anderson, Susan expressed her own frustration at the shady evidence:
Perhaps I – as a longtime user of reassurance seeking therapy – have reached my limit in the face of disputes between different clinicians and researchers, warnings and methodological debate. “The research seems very… baggy,” I said, not bothering to hide my disappointment. “Not very satisfied.” I can actually hear a smile on the other end of the phone. “Thanks,” Anderson said. “That’s what makes this study so exciting. That there is no simple answer, right?
Read Susan’s cover story here for more details on the evidence for different types of therapy and how therapists are trying to improve.
More from the magazine
NEWS
G7 Summit
According to the book: Pulitzer Prize Winner Hernan Diaz Begins write by reading.
Our editor’s pick: “The Covenant of Water,” about generations of a family in southwestern India, and eight other books.
Best selling times: “A Day With No Words,” written by Tiffany Hammond and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove, tops the list List of children’s picture books.
NEXT WEEK
What to watch
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Greece holds elections today.
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Two Republicans are expected to enter the presidential race this week: DeSantis And Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.
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A man photographed placing his boots on a table in Nancy Pelosi’s office during the January 6 attacks will be sentenced on Wednesday.
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A House subcommittee will hold a hearing on banking and regulatory failures on Wednesday.
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Biden will deliver the opening remarks at his alma mater, the University of Delaware, on Saturday.
What to cook this week
