Invitation to Psychology

Chapter 12 Approaches to Treatment and Therapy 441

and goals. It can teach you new skills and new ways

of thinking. It can help you get along better with your

family and break out of destructive family patterns. It

can get you through bad times when no one seems to

care or to understand what you are feeling. It can teach

you how to manage depression, anxiety, and anger.

However, despite its many benefits, psychotherapy

cannot transform you into someone you’re not. It can-

not turn an introvert into an extrovert. It cannot cure

an emotional disorder overnight. It cannot provide

a life without problems. And it is not intended to

substitute for experience—for work that is satisfying,

relationships that are sustaining, activities that are

enjoyable. As Socrates knew, the unexamined life is

not worth living. But, as we would add, the unlived

life is not worth examining.

Many questions remain. Does the severity of a
person’s disorder make a difference? What kind of
pet is most helpful, for what kind of problem? Horses
are being used successfully with people with a variety
of mental and physical problems, but are horses and
dogs (and cats!) special, or can birds, pigs, reptiles,
and fluffy goats also be “animal therapists”? Until we
know, two answers seem clear: There’s no reason not to
provide veterans with canine companions, and, none-
theless, we shouldn’t oversimplify the issues involved.

If you ever decide to seek psychotherapy (with a
human being), it’s wise to be realistic about what it
can and cannot do for you. In the hands of an em-
pathic and knowledgeable practitioner, psychotherapy
can help you make decisions and clarify your values

Becoming a

Smart Consumer

of Psychological

Treatments

If you have a persistent problem that you
do not know how to solve, one that causes
you considerable unhappiness and that has
lasted six months or more, it may be time
to look for help. To take the lessons of this
chapter with you, you might want to consider
these suggestions:

take all ads and Internet promotions for
prescription drugs with a large grain of salt:
Be skeptical! Remember that ads are not
about educating you; they are about sell-
ing you a product. “New” is not necessarily
better; many “me-too” drugs simply tinker
with a blockbuster drug’s formula in the
smallest way, and then the pharmaceutical
company is legally entitled to claim it is
“new and improved.” Check out any drug by
going to reliable sources that are not funded
by the pharmaceutical industry. The Public
Citizen’s Health Research Group publishes
an excellent consumer guide, its monthly
newsletter Worst Pills, Best Pills.

Make an informed decision when you choose
a therapist. Make sure you are dealing with
a reputable individual with appropriate
credentials and training. Ask whether the

therapist practices one of the empirically

supported methods described in this chap-

ter. Your school counseling center is a good

place to start. You might also seek out a uni-

versity psychology clinic, where you can get

therapy with a graduate student in training;

these students are closely supervised and

the fees will be lower.

Choose a therapy most likely to help you.

Begin by talking to the psychotherapist

about your problem, and ask what interven-

tion might best help you and how long he

or she thinks the treatment will last. You

should not spend four years in psychody-

namic therapy for panic attacks, which can

generally be helped in a few sessions of

cognitive-behavior therapy. Likewise, if you

have a specific emotional problem, such

as depression, anger, or anxiety, or if you

are coping with chronic health problems,

look for a cognitive or behavior therapist.

However, if you mostly want to discuss

your life with a wise and empathic coun-

selor, the kind of therapy may not matter

so much.

Consider, but be wary of, online therapy

delivered by apps, video, smartphone, or

e-mail. Many people are unwilling or unable

to go to a one-on-one therapy session, and

online therapy can reach them (Kazdin &

Blase, 2011). Some Internet programs work

well, such as those that deliver monitored

CBT instructions. However, if you start any

kind of therapy with a professional thera-

pist via e-mail, smartphone, or video, be

sure the therapist is following government

guidelines to protect your privacy. As for the

many apps that offer to help you monitor

and manage your moods and thoughts, they

are only as good as the effort you put into

them—and the critical thinking you bring to

evaluating them.

Consider a self-help group. In the United

States, an estimated 7 to 15 million adults

belong to self-help groups (online and in

person) for every possible problem or life

crisis. Self-help groups can be reassuring in

ways that family, friends, and psychothera-

pists sometimes may not be. For example,

people with disabilities face unique chal-

lenges that involve coping not only with physi-

cal problems but also with the condescension

and prejudice of many nondisabled people

(Linton, 1998). However, self-help groups

are not regulated by law or by professional

standards, and they vary widely in their phi-

losophies and methods. Some are accepting

and tolerant; others are confrontational and

coercive.

Choose self-help books that are scientifi-

cally based and promote realistic goals.

Self-help books are available for every prob-

lem, from how to toilet train children to

how to find happiness. To distinguish good

ones from useless ones, avoid any book that

promises the impossible—such as wealth,

Taking Psychology With You