TV series from The Sopranos to Succession features an obligatory therapist. And everyone from the pope to Harry Styles has had therapy. But is it actually worth it?
The scale of mental illness is mind-boggling. A third of us will experience it. It accounts for nearly 40% of illness in developed countries; in comparison, diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart and lung disease together account for just 20%. In the UK, 40% of GP appointments involve mental health issues which give rise to nearly half of absences from work.
Many say therapy is the answer, and the field is certainly booming: You can’t listen to your favourite podcast without being extorted to give therapy a try by hosts or their advertisers.
So, assuming you can afford it, should you try therapy?
The short answer is yes: Therapy works. But only if you choose the right therapist and the right type of therapy.
For decades, research has shown that psychotherapy is highly effective, more so than the flu vaccine and almost all interventions in cardiology. Three quarters of people who’ve had therapy end up with better mental health than those who haven’t. 76% of people say they’d recommend it to a friend.
When therapy works, you stop worrying so much, start making better decisions, stand up for yourself, feel more at peace, and sleep better. But it’s not just about the ‘feels’. Changes brought about by therapy are visible via brain imaging. Improvements are quantifiable: the number of hours slept and days spent panic-free. In one study, clients with anorexia weighed on average 8kg more after therapy—in many cases, the literal difference between life and death.
For most people, most of the time, with most problems, therapy works.
But getting good therapy isn’t straightforward. For a start, there are more than 500 types. Most haven’t been researched. Some are based on pseudoscience and make ridiculous claims. Some make things worse.
To add to the confusion, therapy can be provided by a psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, psychologist or counsellor; in the UK, anyone can use those titles without a single day of training.
That’s the bad news.
But if you follow the prompts below you can navigate the minefield:
Choose a therapy that’s tried and tested, for which there’s good evidence. As a rule of thumb in the UK, if it’s not endorsed by the NHS, think twice.
Choose a good therapist. The best have improvement rates eight times the average. Choose someone with valid credentials, and ask whomever you're considering about their outcomes and how they keep up to date with research.
Take your preferences seriously. CBT and psychoanalysis are very different. If you want tools and guidance, choose a type of therapy which provides that.
Work hard! Research shows that motivation matters most to therapeutic success. If you turn up late and blame others, you won't get much from therapy.
If you’re motivated to change, and choose a mainstream therapy delivered by a qualified professional, then most of the time, and for most problems, therapy really is worth it.
To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
Is Therapy Worth the Investment?
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04.04.2024
TV series from The Sopranos to Succession features an obligatory therapist. And everyone from the pope to Harry Styles has had therapy. But is it actually worth it?
The scale of mental illness is mind-boggling. A third of us will experience it. It accounts for nearly 40% of illness in developed countries; in comparison, diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart and lung disease together account for just 20%. In the UK, 40% of GP appointments involve mental health issues which give rise to nearly half of absences from work.
Many say therapy is the answer, and the field is certainly booming: You can’t listen to your favourite podcast without being extorted to give therapy a try by hosts or their advertisers.
So, assuming you can afford it, should you try therapy?
The short answer........
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