The Gold Standard for Lasting Results
If you’re an adult seeking therapy to enjoy life more, excel at work or business, and build fulfilling intimate relationships, you’ve likely come across the term “evidence-based therapy.” You may have been led to believe that therapies like CBT, DBT, or EMDR are the gold standard for achieving lasting results. But here’s the truth: these “evidence-based” approaches are designed for short-term symptom relief, not the deep, lasting change you’re likely seeking. As a licensed body-based psychotherapist and psychedelic guide in Tampa, I’m here to clarify what real psychotherapy is and how it can help you uncover the roots of your challenges for transformative, long-term success.
The Misconception of “Evidence-Based” Therapy
Since the 1970s, the mental health field has heavily promoted short-term, “evidence-based” therapies—sometimes called “instruction manual therapies” like CBT, DBT, or EMDR. These approaches are backed by studies claiming they produce successful outcomes. But what does “success” mean in these studies? Typically, it’s about reducing symptoms like agitation, low energy, or poor mood over a brief period, often measured by pharmaceutical-industry-designed depression and anxiety questionnaires.
Does that sound like the key to enjoying life more, thriving in your career, or fostering deeply satisfying relationships? It’s not. Symptom relief is temporary and superficial, addressing only the surface of your struggles. If you’re looking for lasting change, you need to go deeper.
Real Psychotherapy: Beyond Symptom Management
You may start therapy because of symptoms—feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected—but true success isn’t about eliminating those symptoms. It’s about addressing their root causes and building a better way of living. Real psychotherapy isn’t about quick fixes, exercises, or protocols (something an AI chatbot might offer, by the way). Instead, it’s about creating a stronger, more resilient model of yourself in the world.
Your internal model of yourself shapes your reality and guides your actions. If you’re struggling with symptoms, that model is likely limited, built on outdated beliefs about yourself, relationships, and life. Real therapy helps you uncover these beliefs, understand their physical and emotional impacts, and expand your model with new knowledge and experiences. This process allows you to think differently, feel more comfortable in your skin, and relate to others in healthier ways.
Why Real Therapy Takes Time
Unlike short-term therapies that promise results in 8–12 weeks, real psychotherapy is a long-term commitment. Why? Because rewriting deeply ingrained habits and beliefs takes time. Think about learning a new language or skill while juggling life’s demands—can you master it in a few months? Unlikely. And under stress, you’d revert to old, familiar patterns, not the new ones.
The same applies to therapy. Lasting change requires practicing new ways of thinking, being, and relating, often in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship. This relationship helps you learn to care for yourself emotionally in ways that translate to your life outside the therapy room. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s worth it.
The True Measure of Successful Therapy
Success in psychotherapy isn’t a better score on a questionnaire. It’s a life that feels more pleasant than unpleasant, a self-loving self awareness, and relationships that thrive. It’s the ability to honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses and navigate life’s ups and downs without crumbling or exploding. That’s what real therapy delivers.
There’s no quick fix for lasting results—but with real psychotherapy, you can achieve the life and relationships you’ve been longing for.
Leah Benson, LMHC is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Tampa, FL.
