Research indicates a significant overlooked aspect of psychotherapy: its painful nature is often a sign of successful healing and growth. Systematic reviews show a lack of adverse effect reporting, suggesting good therapy requires confronting and addressing difficult emotions and experiences. For example, exposure therapies push individuals to face fears, leading to potential short-term discomfort. Rather than shying away from pain, effective psychotherapy embraces it as a necessary step towards emotional flexibility and personal growth, akin to physical rehabilitation.
Good psychotherapy, like good physical therapy, hurts, especially when addressing unresolved symptoms and fostering psychological growth that challenges old patterns suitable for change.
Recent studies reveal a significant lack of reported adverse effects in psychotherapy, highlighting the absence of clear definitions and the rarity of serious consequences.
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