Q. I’ve been in therapy for the past two months for my problems. So far, things haven’t gotten better. Does therapy even work?
Although it can be difficult to admit as a psychologist, talk therapy doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, some critics of psychotherapy would argue that it doesn’t even work for the majority of people. Although it’s not a cure for all things psychologically distressing, I tend to believe that therapy does work with most people — to varying degrees.
If you go into the therapy process with the idea that eight to 10 meetings with a trained professional is going to erase years of hardship and struggle, then you are likely will to be disappointed with the results. Unlike taking an antibiotic for 10 days to rid the body of an infection, psychotherapy can require months (years in some cases) of ongoing treatment. This can be a hard “pill” to swallow in our fast-paced, fix-it-now culture.
Your satisfaction and patience with therapy also depends on your expectations and how you define success. Instead of being a “cure” like an antibiotic, therapy helps a person change how their perceptions influence their feelings and actions over time. It helps them adapt and incorporate their difficult past life experiences into a new way of living. In turn, this helps the person lead a less distressing and more fulfilling life.
Finding the right therapist is key if you want to maximize the benefits of
from
talk therapy. It’s important to work with someone you trust and can talk to openly and honestly. If not, you’ll feel like you’re getting nowhere, become frustrated with the process, and eventually drop out. That’s why I encourage people to shop around for a therapist. If you tend to respond well to clear direction and guidance, you may want to see someone who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy. If you are more of the introspective and curious type, consulting a therapist of the psychodynamic persuasion (think Sigmund Freud) may be a good choice.
Then there is the reality that you may not need psychotherapy. Maybe you would benefit from more traditional forms of healing like talking with friends and family, exercise, or focusing your efforts on helping others who are also struggling. It’s not that therapy isn’t important. It’s more of an acknowledgement that for thousands of years people overcame tremendous hardships without the help of a psychologist, psychiatrist
,
or social worker.
Therapy can be a highly effective treatment for a range of psychological problems and people. It is not a magic bullet, however. The most important thing is to ask for help and accept it when it’s provided.
Bret A. Moore, Psy.D., is a board-certified clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. Email him at kevlarforthemind@militarytimes.com. This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to convey specific psychological or medical guidance.
