But to be clear, the evidence of that study is consistent with what Paul writes here: most therapy is helpful. There are some bad therapists who are worse than nothing, but that's the real worst of the worst. Even the 25th percentile therapists are helpful to people. I would think that if you, say, get a recommendation for a therapist fr…
But to be clear, the evidence of that study is consistent with what Paul writes here: most therapy is helpful. There are some bad therapists who are worse than nothing, but that's the real worst of the worst. Even the 25th percentile therapists are helpful to people. I would think that if you, say, get a recommendation for a therapist from someone whose judgement you trust, who has seen that therapist, the odds are quite good that you'll benefit.
Thank you! I did forward this article to several friends and asked for advice. Two were dead set against therapy. Another friend (pro-therapy) said that therapy works really well for specific conditions (depression, anxiety, eating disorders etc) that are on a typical therapists "recipe list". But you really do need a good therapist for something out of the ordinary. I'm more like Tony Soprano than a young man with depression. I wonder if you could comment on that.
Take my advice with a grain of salt - I've researched it as a journalist, been in therapy a few times, and am married to a therapist, but I'm not a true expert on these things. I haven't read the book that Graham Johnston links to below, but it looks like it would be useful on the topic:
My two cents is that even a decent therapist can be helpful if you're in a space to work on yourself. My own work hasn't been on any specific condition but rather about trying to grow as a person, work through childhood issues, improve relationships, etc. I've done a few different stints of a few years each, with three different therapists, along with a few years in group therapy with other men. I'd say one of the therapists was truly gifted. The other two were solid, maybe above average but not exceptionally so.
I think it's all been helpful, but I've been very open to the process and not everyone is. If you can find one of the truly exceptional therapists, and have the time and money (many of the really good ones don't take insurance) to see them for a while, then they'll benefit you enormously, almost regardless of what the issue is.
Really severe mental illness -- schizophrenia, other pyschotic disorders -- is an exception to that. But for most of what the "worried well" deal with, a good therapist is a godsend.
Thank you, Daniel. I really appreciate this. You have given me the encouragement to go looking. The book looks interesting too and I will give it a go.
I have access to a free therapy session through my cancer charity. Perhaps I will go see her and ask her to recommend a therapist.
Go for it! fwiw there are programs in most places (via the city or the local mental health clinics) that offer free or very low cost therapy. You're not going to get the primo grade A therapy, but you might find someone decent.
But to be clear, the evidence of that study is consistent with what Paul writes here: most therapy is helpful. There are some bad therapists who are worse than nothing, but that's the real worst of the worst. Even the 25th percentile therapists are helpful to people. I would think that if you, say, get a recommendation for a therapist from someone whose judgement you trust, who has seen that therapist, the odds are quite good that you'll benefit.
Thank you! I did forward this article to several friends and asked for advice. Two were dead set against therapy. Another friend (pro-therapy) said that therapy works really well for specific conditions (depression, anxiety, eating disorders etc) that are on a typical therapists "recipe list". But you really do need a good therapist for something out of the ordinary. I'm more like Tony Soprano than a young man with depression. I wonder if you could comment on that.
Take my advice with a grain of salt - I've researched it as a journalist, been in therapy a few times, and am married to a therapist, but I'm not a true expert on these things. I haven't read the book that Graham Johnston links to below, but it looks like it would be useful on the topic:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1915220335/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
My two cents is that even a decent therapist can be helpful if you're in a space to work on yourself. My own work hasn't been on any specific condition but rather about trying to grow as a person, work through childhood issues, improve relationships, etc. I've done a few different stints of a few years each, with three different therapists, along with a few years in group therapy with other men. I'd say one of the therapists was truly gifted. The other two were solid, maybe above average but not exceptionally so.
I think it's all been helpful, but I've been very open to the process and not everyone is. If you can find one of the truly exceptional therapists, and have the time and money (many of the really good ones don't take insurance) to see them for a while, then they'll benefit you enormously, almost regardless of what the issue is.
Really severe mental illness -- schizophrenia, other pyschotic disorders -- is an exception to that. But for most of what the "worried well" deal with, a good therapist is a godsend.
Thank you, Daniel. I really appreciate this. You have given me the encouragement to go looking. The book looks interesting too and I will give it a go.
I have access to a free therapy session through my cancer charity. Perhaps I will go see her and ask her to recommend a therapist.
Go for it! fwiw there are programs in most places (via the city or the local mental health clinics) that offer free or very low cost therapy. You're not going to get the primo grade A therapy, but you might find someone decent.