Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) and Their Changing the Narrative About Therapy

Therapies of depth, insight, and relationship have been missing from, if not pushed out of, the public conversation on mental health treatment. After decades of attack from multiple fronts, these therapies are misunderstood, undervalued, and overlooked by the general public. To assess what people know about therapy and mental health, and what they really want from treatment, the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) conducted extensive original research with the general public. From this innovative and unprecedented effort to “listen” to the public, we learned about the attitudes and expectations people have towards therapy, which benefits matter most, what their misperceptions and biases are, and what they know and don’t know about mental health and therapy. This presentation shares the findings from PsiAN’s qualitative and quantitative research. It also offers a blueprint for engaging and communicating with the public, so that the public gains greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation for therapies of depth, insight, and relationship.