Medication Alone Isn't as Effective as Psychotherapy to Overcome Anxiety or Depression

In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on taking medication to overcome anxiety or depression.  While medication can be helpful, medication alone often isn't enough.  Aside from the possible side effects, medication alone doesn't help you to make the kind of changes you need to make to overcome anxiety or depression.  Rather than relying on medication alone, attending psychotherapy with an experienced therapist is usually more effective.

Medication Alone Isn't as Effective as Psychotherapy

Medication Alone Isn't Enough to Overcome Anxiety or Depression
Believing that medication alone is enough for you to overcome anxiety or depression is a seductive idea.  It sounds simple and quick.  There are lots of commercials on TV that lead you to believe that all you have to do is pop a pill to fill better.  But this idea is deceptive.

Psychotherapy is Effective in Helping You to Make Changes in Your Life to Overcome Anxiety or Depression 
Just taking medication alone won't help you to make much-needed changes in your life to overcome anxiety or depression.  There might be things that you're doing (or not doing) that might be contributing to your anxiety or depression.

By simply taking a pill, you won't learn to make the necessary changes that might be exacerbating your condition.

For instance, medication won't help you to develop emotional intelligence to handle your problems.  Developing emotional intelligence is something you learn to do in therapy.

Also, medication alone won't help to motivate you to engage in the type of self care that might actually make it unnecessary to take medication.

So, for instance, research has shown that, in many instances, doing exercise can be as effective to alleviate anxiety or depressive symptoms as medication and without the side effects.  In therapy, you can develop the motivation to exercise and engage in other types of self care that can help you to feel better.

In many cases, either psychotherapy alone or psychotherapy and medication can be effective, depending upon the client and the severity of the symptoms.

It's very important that you consult with your doctor before you stop taking medication.

See the link below for my article about APA research, which reveals that psychotherapy is effective, but it's underutilized.

About Me
I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing therapist.  I work with individual adults and couples.

To find out more about me, visit my website:  Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist

To set up a consultation, call me at (212) 726-1006 or send me an email: josephineolivia@aol.com 


APA: Research Reveals That Psychotherapy Is Effective But Underutilized

APA: Research Reveals Psychotherapy Is Effective But Underutilized

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), research reveals that psychotherapy is an effective treatment for that helps to reduce not only mental health problems but also improves long term health.  

Yet, despite this research, according to the APA, mental health treatment has decreased over the last 10 years or so as more people attempt to rely on psychotropic medication for their emotional problems (see link below for the APA article).

Research Reveals Psychotherapy is Effective But Underutilized

The article cites the findings of 50 peer-reviewed studies that demonstrate psychotherapy's effectiveness across age and racial groups.

According to the APA article, research has shown that a combination of psychotherapy and medication is effective in treating anxiety and medication.

In my experience as a psychotherapist, I've found that many clients who might think, initially, that they might need to be on medication are often helped with psychotherapy alone combined with exercise or yoga.  Of course, each client is different and what works for one client might not work for another.  But this is also true for psychotropic medication.

The APA article also indicates that research has shown that the positive effects of psychotherapy often last longer than psychotropic medication.

Also, psychotherapy is often effective for teaching clients life skills that the clients benefit from long after they have completed psychotherapy.

About Me

I am a licensed NYC psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing therapist. 

I work with individual adults and couples.

To find out more about me, visit my website:  Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist

To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.

Research Shows Psychotherapy is Effective But Underutilized