Does therapy work?

The biggest factors for successful therapy include:

• the match between your needs and the therapist’s approach

• consistency (weekly or biweekly is common)

• your ability and willingness to open up

• whether you apply the tools outside of the session.

Therapy is a very effective way to process unresolved emotions, heal past wounds, learn new coping skills, improve relationships, and reduce symptoms. Being active and honest in therapy essential for meeting your goals. Finding the right therapist for you is also a very important component. You will want to make sure that you can be open with this person, that you agree with the treatment plan and that you feel comfortable with their style.

For your part, being open and honest, completing the homework you agree on, and attending regularly will all help you get the most out of treatment.

Therapy often results in fewer relapses of moderate depression and anxiety. And research shows that the positive effects of good therapy extend beyond treatment. Many people report improved conditions long after therapy has ended. Therapy is often more effective than pharmaceutical medication alone. Many therapeutic methods are also evidence-based. This means they have been through research studies and clinical observations to test their effectiveness.