Ware Wellness Group

Licensed Psychologists

Providing Effective Psychotherapy in Dallas, Texas

  How Does Therapy Help?

By Deann Ware, Ph.D.

Can seeing a psychologist help?

In 2024, more Americans than ever before are seeking emotional health support. 

The stressors originating with the COVID 19 pandemic are ongoing. Many are impacted by the economy, war, and political upheaval.  We've seen tremendous resilience, but coping resources are wearing thin.

This does not mean that more Americans are mentally ill, but does indicate people are experiencing stress and are willing to seek effective treatment.  Studies show that most individuals who seek help from a psychologist or therapist find relief; for example, a study conducted by Consumer Reports found that 90% of psychotherapy participants reported improvement. This study reported that people who chose their own psychologist (as opposed to being limited to psychologists on their insurance plan) reported more benefits.  The amount of time the person participated in therapy also correlated with satisfaction--people who participated in therapy for six months or more reported more improvement than those who participated in shorter courses of therapy. 

Therapy Works!

Scientific studies, as well as clients’ own reports, provide evidence of the beneficial changes as a result of psychotherapy. 

The American Psychological Association has published a review article, "Recognition of Psychotherapy Effectiveness."  This comprehensive article provides an overview of the scientific research showing that Therapy Works!

Current technology in brain imaging has allowed scientists to see the changes in the brain that occur as a result of psychotherapy.  For a summary of neurobiology and psychotherapy, see Dr. Ware's blog post:  Neurons That Fire Together Wire Together or Neurons that Fire Together Wire Together--But Why?

The process of psychotherapy, and the techniques the psychologist will utilize, are geared toward the specific challenges and goals of the client.

There are many different therapeutic approaches the psychologist may use to help a client with difficulties; for example, cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy are both effective psychotherapeutic techniques. Psychotherapy is an active process, for the client as well as the psychologist. In order for psychotherapy to be optimally successful, you will need to work on issues discussed in therapy both in session and on your own.  Effective psychotherapy will teach you to observe, monitor, and adapt your own thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and motivations in a healthy manner.  The ultimate goal of psychotherapy is to for you to learn to be your own therapist. 

Seeing a psychologist often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, improved coping abilities, and significant reductions in feelings of distress.

Therapy & Medications:

Psychologists in the State of Texas do not prescribe medication.

Most psychologists develop a network of skilled psychiatrists to refer to for medication concerns.  Dr. Ware and Dr. Liss-Clarke work collaboratively with excellent psychiatrists in the Dallas area and can facilitate appropriate referrals and coordinate care. 

Some clients seeing a psychologist choose to work in therapy without the use of medications; other therapy clients choose to utilize psychotropic medications as an adjunct to therapy.

You should feel free to discuss with your psychologist the benefits of seeking a medication consultation.  The ultimate decision to take psychotropic medication is one that is made by the client, with input provided by a physician.  

A meta-analysis study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the effectiveness of antidepressant medication is often related to the severity of the symptoms the client is experiencing--the more severe the symptoms, the more likely the client will benefit from medication (Fourneir, J.C., DeRubeis, R.J., Hollon, S.D., Dimidjian, S., Amsterdam, J.D., Shelton, R.C., & Fawcett, J., 2010). 

Current research suggests that psychotherapy is as effective as medication for some psychological issues. 

Most people responding to the Consumer Reports surveys said they improved with medications alone, psychotherapy alone, or a combination of the two.  People who did not take medications and instead participated solely in psychotherapy improved about as much as people who used medication plus therapy, if the therapy lasted 13 sessions or more.  Studies also suggest that psychotherapy has more lasting benefits than medication, which intuitively makes sense as the benefits of medication stop when the medication stops. 

If a client wants to try medications, the psychologists at Ware Wellness Group will work with a psychiatrist to make sure the client gets the benefit of both approaches. 

The more you participate, the better you get!

Clients who are involved in choosing a psychologist and actively participate in therapy get better faster.

Although we all would like to fix problems in our lives as quickly as possible, studies show that therapy which lasts more than six months is more effective than shorter therapies.  It has probably taken you many years to acquire the problems you bring to therapy and a psychologist needs time to help you understand those problems and work them out.

If you are considering therapy, you may want to interview two or three psychologists before you choose one.  Be prepared with a list of questions.  You may want to ask about education, years of practice, and whether or not they have treated the types of problems you bring to therapy.  Also, pay attention to how you feel talking to the psychologist—there must be a good “fit” between the client and psychologist for a good working relationship.  Because this fit is so important, the psychologists at Ware Wellness Group offer an initial consultation, at no charge.

You should also investigate whether the psychologist or therapist you are considering has ever been reprimanded by a licensing board.  Licensed mental health professionals (including psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, and licensed professional counselors) are required to follow rules and procedures to ensure ethical treatment of clients. 

For parents seeking psychological services for a child, it's important that both the parents and child feel comfortable with the psychologist.  While some children may be resistant to seeing a psychologist, a skilled psychologist can make inroads with even the most resistant child. 

Mental Health Professionals:

Clinical psychologists graduate from college, attend four to five years of graduate school in psychology, and complete a comprehensive research project (dissertation) to earn a Ph.D. 

(Psychologists may also earn a Psy.D., although the Psy.D. designation does not require the rigorous dissertation project.) 

Psychologists also complete an internship (approximately 2,000 hours) and one year of postdoctoral supervised training (an additional 2,000 hours) and must pass national and state examinations to be licensed as a psychologist. 

These rigorous training requirements are important to prepare psychologists for the complex problems people can bring to therapy.  Psychologists are highly skilled in both assessment and treatment of emotional problems, from mild adjustment issues to serious mental illness. 

The licensing requirements for psychologists are at a higher threshold than those for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC's) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSW's or LMSW-ACP's), which require a masters degree (rather than a doctorate) for licensure.  However, many professionals with subdoctoral licenses complete additional training and are very experienced in their fields. 

Psychiatrists attend medical school (rather than graduate school in psychology), then complete a psychiatric residency.  Psychiatrists are skilled in prescribing psychotropic medications, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.  Some psychiatrists provide only medication management while others also provide psychotherapy.  Because psychiatrists specialize in mental health and psychotropic medications, they are often preferable to general practitioners when psychotropic medications need to be adjusted and/or carefully managed.

In Summary:

The Consumer Reports articles "Mental Health:  Does Therapy Help?”  and "Drugs vs. Talk Therapy" reinforce what many other scientific, peer-reviewed studies have found:  psychotherapy works.    The longer the treatment and the more involved the client, the more it works.  If you are considering therapy, consult with several licensed psychologists, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and choose a psychologist you are comfortable with.  Psychotherapy is a investment and you can expect to yield results. 

Kate Scharff, MSW, has written a book entitled, Therapy Demystified:  An Insider's Guide to Getting the Right Help (Without Going Broke).  This book is a great resource for those wanting to know what to expect from therapy, how to choose a psychologist, etc.

Deann Ware, Ph.D. and Deanna Liss-Clarke, Ph.D. provide psychotherapy at the Ware Wellness Group.  They each have 25 years of experience working one on one with clients.  They office at Preston Forest Tower, in Dallas, Texas.