What “Evidence-Based” Means in Our Therapy Rooms
If you’ve looked at therapist websites, including ours, you’ve probably seen the phrase “evidence-based.” It shows up so often that it can start to sound like filler. I use it too, so I want to explain what it means to me, and what it looks like when you’re sitting across from me (or across a screen).
What the Term Means
Many therapy approaches have been studied. Researchers follow large groups of people through treatment and measure whether they feel better, and whether that improvement lasts. When an approach holds up across many studies, it earns the label “evidence-based.”
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a good example. It has been tested across a wide range of concerns, including anxiety and depression, in a large body of research (Hofmann et al., 2012). So when I say I use evidence-based approaches, I mean I’m drawing on methods that have helped many people with concerns like yours, not on a hunch.
Why It Matters to Me
By the time someone calls us, they may have thought about it for a while. They’re giving their time, money, and energy, often during a hard season of life. I think that deserves an approach with a track record.
As a clinical supervisor, I ask the clinicians I work with the same question I ask myself: why this approach, for this person, right now? Having a clear answer is part of how we take care of the people who trust us.
Research Is Where Care Starts, Not Where It Ends
No study has met you. Research can tell me which tools tend to help, but it can’t tell me your history, your pace, or what matters most to you. That’s what our relationship is for.
I believe all of us have adapted based on a lifetime of experiences, and those adaptations made sense at the time. My work is to help you understand your patterns without judgment, notice your strengths, and move toward the changes you want. Evidence-based tools support that process. They don’t replace it.
Research on what people want from therapy points the same way. People care whether a treatment has been shown to work, and they care even more about whether their therapist understands them (Farrell & Deacon, 2016). In my experience, good therapy needs both.
What This Looks Like in a Session
Early on, I’ll ask what you’d like to be different and what has gotten in the way. I’m less interested in telling you what you should want than in understanding what matters to you, and why.
If you’re working through trauma, grief, or painful family experiences, we might talk about EMDR. If it seems like a good fit, I’ll explain how it works and why I think it could help, and we’ll decide together. We’ll go at a pace that feels safe, and we’ll pay attention to what your body is telling you along the way.
Some parts of life can’t be fixed, like a loss or a serious illness. In those moments, a lot of our work is learning to make room for hard feelings while still moving toward the people and things you care about.
Throughout, I’ll check in with you. Is this helping? Does it feel right? If something isn’t working, we adjust. Being evidence-based also means paying attention to the evidence in front of me: how you’re doing.
You’re Welcome to Ask
If you’re in therapy, or thinking about starting, it’s fair to ask your clinician what approach they’re using and why. A good clinician will be glad you asked. It’s part of working together.
If you’d like to talk with someone at Greenwood, we see clients in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Pittsboro, and Hillsborough, and by telehealth across North Carolina. We’re here when you’re ready.
References
Farrell, N. R., & Deacon, B. J. (2016). The relative importance of relational and scientific characteristics of psychotherapy: Perceptions of community members vs. therapists. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 50, 171–177.
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427–440.
