Clare talks a lot about “evidence-based treatment”. What is it and why does it matter?
There are lots of theories out there about how to feel better, especially in the age of the internet. Some of this advice is spot on. Some of it is not! We look to evidence from scientific studies to help us work out what advice to listen to.
Before a scientific study is published in an academic journal, it is “peer-reviewed” by other experts in the area, which means that any flaws in the research are pointed out. While we still need to read these articles critically, academic articles are generally a more trustworthy source of information than other content out there.
In the world of psychological therapy, scientific studies are usually conducted for specific issues (like depression, or generalised anxiety disorder). These studies help us to compare how effective different treatments are for different conditions. That helps us work out which treatment is likely to be helpful for most people experiencing that problem.
At the assessment session, Clare will ask lots of questions to work out what problems you are experiencing, and what treatments you have (or haven’t) tried before. Then, she can match the problem to the evidence to work out which treatment is most likely to be effective for you.
Clare loves having conversations about psychological research and evidence, so don’t hesitate to ask her if you have any questions.