What did Freud get right?

[no one]

The way he spelled his name.
I'm pretty sure mommy showed him the bad touch.

[brewer]

Was he right about cocaine? Absolutely.

But what about talk therapy? Maybe. Studies have indicated that talk therapy's influence on recovery from mental illness may be negligible. As one of my psych profs explained to me, most of the data supporting talk therapy is based on what recovered individuals name as the cause of recovery. Meaning, people who have had talk therapy generally think IT was an instrumental factor in their recovery. But studies that focus on results only find the influence of talk therapy negligible.

Can't view the NY Times without subscribing. I don't read it enough to put out.

That depends on what you consider mental illness and what is considered recovered. For some illnesses there is never recovery and I'll agree that there are many mental illnesses where talk therapy is not effective. But even in those illnesses talk therapy can provide a support system.

It is certainly not a failure. Can't tell you how many psychologists, social workers, addiction counselors, ................ tell me that it is their primary tool, and is often a secondary tool to the primary treatment (medication). Think of how many conditions that have directed support groups. CBT is talk therapy.

[The Architect Of Fate]

The effect of the unconscious mind.

The existence of defense mechanisms.

The fear/resistance of change.

The idea of transference.

Talk therapy.

Cocaine.

Was he right about cocaine? Absolutely.

But what about talk therapy? Maybe. Studies have indicated that talk therapy's influence on recovery from mental illness may be negligible. As one of my psych profs explained to me, most of the data supporting talk therapy is based on what recovered individuals name as the cause of recovery. Meaning, people who have had talk therapy generally think IT was an instrumental factor in their recovery. But studies that focus on results only find the influence of talk therapy negligible.

I have found it incredibly effective in some cases and at least very helpful in others.

[vulcanlogician]

[brewer]

[awty]

The effect of the unconscious mind.

The existence of defense mechanisms.

The fear/resistance of change.

The idea of transference.

Talk therapy.

Cocaine.

Was he right about cocaine? Absolutely.

But what about talk therapy? Maybe. Studies have indicated that talk therapy's influence on recovery from mental illness may be negligible. As one of my psych profs explained to me, most of the data supporting talk therapy is based on what recovered individuals name as the cause of recovery. Meaning, people who have had talk therapy generally think IT was an instrumental factor in their recovery. But studies that focus on results only find the influence of talk therapy negligible.

Cocaine is a subject for another time...

In my experience, talk therapy was helpful in getting some perspective with a couple of life events...such as the death of my first husband. It was uncharted territory and I really didn't know where to go with what I was thinking and feeling. Having a third party to speak with that wasn't emotionally invested was helpful to see through the fog. It was also helpful to me when I finally made the break with my mother...in fact, it was crucial. These were very specific events and I am not sure that talk therapy is as useful for mental illness since that is often a chemical imbalance. I'm sure for some people talking it out does help on some levels.

I saw that for situational depressive states it was helpful to me.

[brewer]

Was he right about cocaine? Absolutely.

But what about talk therapy? Maybe. Studies have indicated that talk therapy's influence on recovery from mental illness may be negligible. As one of my psych profs explained to me, most of the data supporting talk therapy is based on what recovered individuals name as the cause of recovery. Meaning, people who have had talk therapy generally think IT was an instrumental factor in their recovery. But studies that focus on results only find the influence of talk therapy negligible.

Cocaine is a subject for another time...

In my experience, talk therapy was helpful in getting some perspective with a couple of life events...such as the death of my first husband.  It was uncharted territory and I really didn't know where to go with what I was thinking and feeling.  Having a third party to speak with that wasn't emotionally invested was helpful to see through the fog.  It was also helpful to me when I finally made the break with my mother...in fact, it was crucial.  These were very specific events and I am not sure that talk therapy is as useful for mental illness since that is often a chemical imbalance.  I'm sure for some people talking it out does help on some levels.

I saw that for situational depressive states it was helpful to me.

Thanks for addressing intrinsic vs extrinsic.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

As bad as Freud was in most areas, he did help Sherlock Holmes break his cocaine addiction and come to terms with the childhood trauma of seeing his father kill his mother. That’s gotta count for something.

Boru