Questions on the Couch

Researchers spar over how best to evaluate psychotherapy

These are the times that try psychotherapists’ souls. Federal and state mental-health budget cuts have reduced the number of people who can afford one-on-one psychotherapy sessions to address their problems. Managed care companies demand to see proof that various psychological treatments work, and even then, they reimburse the cost of 2 or 3 months of psychotherapy at most.