Does therapy work?
Yes! Therapy does work. Research has shown that people who attend therapy are more likely to be better off than those who don't. This finding has been repeatedly confirmed and researchers are now turning their attention from asking "Does therapy work?" to the more complex issue of "Which therapy works best? For whom and under what circumstances?" Apart from the obvious expected benefits like feeling and functioning better, therapy can also improve relationship skills and work performance, and reduce the number of times a person sees a doctor or is admitted to hospital. Some issues that therapy is known to be helpful for include:
Addictions
Anxiety
Depression
Emotional crises
Low self-esteem
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Personality disorders
Phobias
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Relationship and family problems
Schizophrenia