The Illusion of Psychotherapy

by William Epstein

Overview

In The Illusion of Psychotherapy William Epstein asserts that psychotherapy is probably ineffective and possibly harmful. He maintains that there is no credible clinical evidence that psychotherapy is effective in handling personal or social problems, or that it is more effective than other modes of treatment. The theories that underpin clinical practice remain speculative and their influence over social policy are more ideological than scientific. A skeptical public and its government would be better served, Epstein says, by credible evidence of outcomes. His analysis focuses on whether psychotherapy is effective against a variety of unwanted behaviors, such as drug addiction and depression.

The nation's social problems are due to the inadequacies of its core social institutions: families, communities, education, and jobs. Social problems emerge because many people are brought up in deficient families, live in dangerous communities, lack education and jobs, and have few or no routes out of poverty. Poor people are exposed to unrelenting risks to their physical and mental health. It is possible to remedy most deficiencies through human services that compensate for these failed social institutions.

This position is inevitably unpopular in psychotherapeutic circles and in light of current political preferences since it requires massive new resources and extensive redistribution of existing resources. The extent of society's problems reflects the degree to which deficits in basic social institutions have been tolerated. Basic services have been lacking while psychotherapy diverts our impulse to address poverty into ineffective strategies. In a challenging conclusion, Epstein urges society to solve its problems by confronting the reality implied by the failure of psy-chotherapy's minhnal interventions: to acknowledge that more is necessary to resolve social need. This leads to general theoretical concerns about theory as such. The Illusion of Psychotherapy will be compelling reading for psychologists, psychotherapists, social scientists, and policymakers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138516113
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/24/2018
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface, Acknowledgments, 1. Introduction, 2. Psychotherapy's Face to the World: The Summary Assessments of its Effectiveness, 3. Recent Tests of the Effectiveness of Individual and Group Psychotherapy, 4. Recent Tests of the Effectiveness of Family Therapy, 5. The Failure of Psychotherapy as Science, 6. Conclusion: Why Does Psychotherapy Persist?, References, Index

Editorial Reviews

Epstein (social work, U. of Nevada, Las Vegas) argues that psychotherapy has failed to prove itself effective in dealing with personal or social problems and that, moreover, social problems must be solved by changing social services and institutions rather than through personal psychotherapy. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

[T]his book presents a considerable challenge to supporters of psychotherapy.” —Jeremy Holmes, Journal of Medical Ethics "This work should be read by three audiences at least: the sprawling popu­lation of therapists who try to minister to innumerable human and behav­ioral ills with miscellaneous credentials; insurance companies and public policy makers who pay for counseling and psychological treatment because they believe individuals are primarily to blame for (or can overcome) such troubles in society as unemployment, deviance, family disorganization, single and teenage parenthood, drug and alcohol addiction, learning disability, mental illness; and the reading public can learn how much therapy depends on faith and hope, not on proven science. If these audiences do read this comprehensive work they will be outraged at first, and then very thoughtful. Why? This is the most thorough and exhaustive review in decades of scores of studies about the effectiveness of various psychotherapies—the real life outcomes assessed as objectively as present science permits, rather than through the subjective views of practitioners. The results: (1) fragmentary and ambiguous evidence of minor positive gains in some cases; (2) little or no credible objective evidence of change or improvement in behavior or func­tioning." —Robert Morris, Emeritus Professor, Brandeis University, Cardinal Medeiros Lecturer, University of Massachusetts "Debunkers do not make themselves popular among those who believe in the myths being unmasked. William M. Epstein will surely find himself un­welcome in the swollen community of psychotherapists. But the rest of us— citizens and policy makers alike—are very much in his debt. He has scruti­nized the scientific claims of a vast array of psychotherapeutic practitioners and found that these claims do not meet the minimum standards of scien­tific proof. More than that, he gives us good reason to suspect that many therapies may not only be ineffective but harmful. . . . His is a voice that demands to be heard." —Andrew J. Polsky, Associate Professor of Political Science, Hunter College "Observers of the excessive American tendency to push for client personal reform where a problem requires money, services, or other resources will be delighted with this effort to set the record straight. Scientists and others who ask for evidence of treatment outcomes will be pleased with this refusal to substitute faith and conviction for experimental rigor. There remains room for debate: Are Epstein's criteria too tough? Is the evidence objectively read? Would better research controls make a difference? Is there any place to be claimed for psychotherapy? Professor Epstein is to be applauded for helping to set the terms of that debate and challenging the field to ask why so many unproven claims persist." —Alfred J. Kahn, Professor Emeritus and Co-Di­rector, The Columbia University School of Social Work "Although Epstein's contention that psychotherapy is on balance harmful remains speculative, The Illusion of Psychotherapy establishes a salutary new benchmark of rigor for the design and evaluation of outcome studies." — Frederick Crews, Professor of English, University of California, Berkeley

From the Publisher