Choosing Your PsychotherapistBy: Lindsey Berman

BackgroundDoes psychotherapy work? Which type of therapy should I choose? Do some work better than others?Mary Lee Smith and Gene Glass Goals:

To identify and collect all studies that tested the effects of counseling and psychotherapyTo determine the magnitude of the effect of therapy in each studyTo compare the effects of different types of therapy.

Method375 different studies from 1000 magazines, journals, and books that tested counseling and psychotherapy effects.

Each had one group who received therapy and one control group.

Meta-analysisMost important to include was the effect of therapy833 effect sizes 25000 subjects combinedAverage age: 22Average time: 17 hoursAverage therapist experience: 3.5 years

Results (Does therapy work?)

Average subject that received therapy was better off than 75% of the untreated subjects. Therapy moved average subject from the 50th percentile to 75th percentileOnly 99/833 (12%) of the effect sizes had negative results

Results (How does therapy work for

different results? )

Results (Which type of therapy works best?)

Results (Behavior superclass vs. non-

behavioral)Split into two “superclasses” Compared the two control groupsNo differences between the two

SignificanceThe study was “a step in the right direction toward solving the problem” that people do not have enough knowledge of therapy.Less confusing for clients, more confusing for therapists.

Recent ApplicationsMeta-analysis for 48 different studies on depression and group therapyThose who received therapy improved 85% percent more than those who don’t. Behavioral treatments for people suffering from migraine and tension headache problems. 30 - 50% reduction in the headaches with the behavioral strategies.Psychotherapy for the mentally retarded.