In: Psychology
Does psychotherapy work?
There are over 100 different types of therapy available in the US. For a long time, researchers showed little interest in evaluating the effectiveness of any of them. After all, if people want to spend their money to be hypnotized, or discuss their dreams, why should anyone object? Later, however, the US Congress held long debates about national health care, including the possibility of setting up a national program to pay the costs of psychotherapy. Before saddling taxpayers with those costs, the lawmakers wanted to know how effective psychotherapy really is.
The following studies incorporate progressively more complex experimental methods. Critically examine each for flaws and discuss those here.
Study 1: This study asked several therapists to state how seriously disturbed their new patients were. Six months later, we asked them again. Nearly all of them declare that the majority of their patients are vastly improved. Does this answer the question? Why or why not?
Study 2: Assume study 1 is repeated using judges that were not the psychotherapists themselves but other therapists ("blind observers") who meet the clients for the first time to evaluate their psychological health at the start of the study and again six months later. This study reports that 75% are better adjusted, 15% are unchanged, and 10% are worse. What can we conclude?
Study 3: This study repeated study 2 but included an experimental and control group. The experimental group included troubled participants that went to therapists and the control group included troubled participants that did not see therapists. Participants were rated by a "blind" observer at the start of the study and again six months later. The experimental group has shown greater improvement than the control group. Can we draw a firm conclusion?
Psychotherapy did really work because a tremendous amount of researches demonstrates its effectiveness. A major study of 2400 persons receiving psychotherapy once a week, about 50 percent of people's showed a significant improvement after two consecutive months and about 75 percent of peoples showed a significant improvement after six consecutive months.Study 1- Yes it answers because Psychotherapy help peoples of all ages live happier, healthier and more productive lives. Several approaches to psychotherapy includes cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal and other kinds of talk therapies, grounded in dialogues provides a supportive environment that allows an individual to open up fearlessly with the therapist who's objective, neutral and nonjudgemental, who identifies and change the thought and behaviour patterns that keeps an individual from feeling its best. Study 2- Well from this we get to conclusion that Psychotherapy actually work if you get it from an expert Psychotherapist or an good communicating client.. Study 3-Conclusion Psychotherapy as a whole can improve ones quality of life.