Evidence-Based Treatments: How to Find Therapy that Works

Finding the right mental health treatment can feel overwhelming. With so many options available, it can be hard to know what therapies will actually help you or your child. This is where evidence-based treatments (EBTs) come in. 

The term evidence-based treatment (EBT) refers to a therapy that has been scientifically tested and shown to work through research. The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends the use of evidence based practice, which involves combining the best available research (e.g. what the research says works best for a problem), a clinician’s professional training and judgement, and the needs, culture, and preferences of the person seeking treatment. It’s not just about what works on average, but what will work best for you or your child. Choosing an evidence-based approach can make a big difference in both the quality of care you receive, and the results you see.

Benefits of Evidence-Based Treatments (EBTs)

Researching evidence-based treatments is a process that can take time, and the effort is well worth the while. EBTs offer the following valuable benefits:

• • Effectiveness. Evidence-based treatments must demonstrate positive results across multiple studies and groups of people. This means that their benefits have been replicated, giving you confidence that the therapy has a strong track record of helping individuals with similar challenges.
  • Safe & Reliable Approach. When you receive an evidence-based treatment, you can feel confident that the approach is grounded in research rather than a provider’s personal opinions or untested methods.
  • Positive Cost-Benefit Ratio.  EBTs are focused and goal-oriented, meaning they often work faster and more efficiently than less-structured approaches. Research on EBTs is conducted in a time-limited manner, which means that the therapy is designed to help you make meaningful progress within a set number of sessions, rather than continuing indefinitely. This means you can reduce the long-term financial costs associated with extended, untested approaches to therapy. In the long-run you may also be able to reduce costs spent on medications, and time spent away from school, work, or other personal endeavors. 

Risks of Untested Therapies

When a therapy hasn’t been scientifically tested, there aren’t clear guidelines to help ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. This can result in a more frustrating and less productive experience. Some risks can include:

• Unexpected Negative Effects. Research not only helps show what works, but also identifies potential harms. Without studies to guide decision-making, you and your provider may lack crucial information about possible side effects or unintended consequences.

• Financial Costs. Therapy can be expensive, especially if you are paying out of pocket or using an out-of-network provider. Spending significant money on a treatment that doesn’t work can make it harder to afford more effective care in the future.

• Time Spent. Therapy takes time— not only to attend sessions, but also to see results. If a treatment isn’t effective, valuable time may be lost, which is especially important when dealing with urgent issues like school attendance, job performance, or safety concerns (e.g., suicidality).

• Loss of Hope and Motivation. Trying a treatment that doesn’t help can lead to frustration or hopelessness. People may start to believe that “therapy doesn’t work” or “therapy isn’t for me,” which can make it harder to seek out and commit to another, potentially more effective approach.

Signs that a Treatment May Not be Evidence-Based

When researching what treatment approach would be best for you, your child, or your family, there are a few red flags to look for. Watch out for these warning signs to avoid treatments that aren’t evidence-based:

• Big Promises. Treatments that offer a quick fix, say that they can guarantee results, or present themselves as a “cure all” for an extensive list of different problems likely won’t have the research to back up such big claims.

• Vague Methods. If the approach to therapy isn’t clearly explained and it’s hard to understand what exactly happens in sessions, you should question the effectiveness of the approach.

• Lack of Training. If a therapy requires little to no specialized training or isn’t provided by a licensed professional, it could result in a lower quality of treatment.

• No Published Data. If you see a lot of testimonials or success stories through unverified personal reports, there is no way to confirm that the information is reliable. A lack of high quality, published research to support a treatment indicates a lack of evidence of its effectiveness.

Examples of Evidence-Based Treatments

There are several well-researched evidence-based treatments for common mental health concerns. These include:

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on exploring the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behavior and changing unhelpful thinking or behavioral patterns that are negatively impacting your life. CBT is effective for treating anxiety, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), ADHD, and other behavioral and emotional challenges.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is designed to help people who struggle with managing intense emotions and the behaviors that come with them. These emotions may lead to harmful coping strategies, such as self-injury, unhealthy eating, or substance use. DBT may be offered as individual therapy or through a comprehensive program, which consists of group skills training, individual therapy, phone coaching, and family and parent sessions. DBT is effective for treating borderline personality disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, suicidality and self-harm, and other related concerns.

• Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT). CBIT teaches individuals struggling with Tourette Syndrome and tics how to reduce their tics. This can be done by increasing awareness of the tics themselves, training individuals to notice tic urges, implementing a competing behavior when they feel the urge to tic, and to make changes to their daily lives that can help reduce tics.

• Parent Management Training (PMT). PMT provides parents with skills and strategies to strengthen the parent-child relationship while setting limits, encouraging appropriate behaviors, and reducing unwanted or challenging behaviors. PMT is effective for treating behavioral challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), oppositional defiant disorder, as well as challenging behavior as part of typical child development.  

Finding a trusted provider and therapy can take some research. To learn more information and find out what other evidence-based treatments could work for your needs, you may turn to the CDC – Tic Treatments for information on evidence-based treatments for tics, Autism Speaks: Evidence Based Practices for focused on treatments for autism and related challenging behaviors, and Society of Clinical Psychology EBT Database to seek support for common mental health conditions

Additional Research and Considerations

In addition to finding an evidence-based treatment that can help you meet your therapy goals, finding a provider who feels like the right fit to support you in that journey also plays an important role in the success of your treatment. When you speak with a therapist, you can ask them these key questions to help determine if they are committed to providing evidence-based treatment and support:

• What type of therapy do you provide, and what does research say about its effectiveness?

• Can you point to any published studies or guidelines backing this therapy?

• How will we measure progress?

You want to look for a therapist who is transparent about their approach and committed to collaborating with you and other care providers on your team to help you meet your treatment goals. A skilled therapist should clearly explain how therapy works, check in regularly about progress, and adapt the treatment to meet you or your child’s needs. You can also review this list of questions to ask to help you find a good therapist.

Choosing an evidence-based treatment is an important step towards finding effective, safe, and personalized care. By understanding what evidence-based treatments are and how to identify them, you can make informed decisions that increase the chances of meaningful and lasting progress. If you’re ready to start researching treatments that can help you meet your therapy goals, contact us to learn more about our evidence-based treatments and how we can help you and your family.