How effective is psychotherapy?

DOES THERAPY WORK?

The Evidence

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy has a strong and expanding evidence base. There are many studies showing that short and long term psychotherapy are very effective, both generally and for specific conditions.

This list of external links showcases some of the research and evidence that has and is continuing to be done on the effectiveness of psychoanalytic therapy.   

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy: what’s the evidence?
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Psychoanalytic psychotherapy has a strong and expanding evidence base. There now exists many outcome studies which have alternately examined the efficacy of short-term and long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy and the efficacy of psychoanalytic psychotherapy for specific conditions.

Evidence in Support of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
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The document distils key evidence concerning the effectiveness of different types of psychodynamic psychotherapy .

The evidence indicates that the benefits of psychodynamic treatment are lasting and not just transitory and appear to extend well beyond symptom remission. For many people, psychoanalytic therapy may foster inner resources and capacities that allow richer, freer, and more fulfilling lives.

The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy by Jonathan Shedler (2010)