The recent history of “science” in psychotherapy

Summary

Leah Benson, a licensed psychotherapist, discusses the marketing challenges faced by therapists and her journey from embracing outdated pseudoscience to discovering more accurate, modern theories. She admits to initially using the polyvagal theory and 'The Body Keeps the Score' to market her services, but later realizes their inaccuracy. Benson now advocates for the importance of understanding 21st-century brain science to empower clients and improve therapy outcomes, warning against therapists who cling to outdated beliefs.

Takeaways

• 📚 Leah Benson is a licensed body-based psychotherapist, coach, and psychedelic guide who discusses the marketing challenges faced by therapists.
• 🎯 Therapists often use outdated pseudo-science to legitimize and market their services, which Leah herself admits to having done in the past.
• 🧠 Leah acknowledges the shift in therapy trends from long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy to evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• 📈 The popularity of CBT is attributed to its structured, repeatable protocols and shorter treatment duration, which are seen as more marketable.
• 💡 Leah discusses the pressure on therapists to market themselves effectively, especially in the digital age where potential clients search for services online.
• 🔍 She highlights the importance of using keywords and scientific jargon to rank higher in search results and attract clients.
• 🌟 Leah found bioenergetic analysis as a therapy modality that aligns with her desire to integrate the body into therapy and has a scientific basis.
• 📚 The release of 'The Body Keeps the Score' by Bessel van der Kolk further legitimized body-based psychotherapy and helped Leah in her marketing efforts.
• 😔 However, Leah later discovered that some of the scientific theories she used for marketing, such as the polyvagal theory, were outdated and not supported by current neuroscience.
• 🚫 She now warns against therapists who continue to promote outdated theories and encourages clients to seek therapists with a modern understanding of brain function.
• 🛑 Leah emphasizes the importance of using contemporary neuroscience, such as predictive processing, as a framework for understanding mental health and therapy.

Q & A

Who is Leah Benson and what is her profession?

Leah Benson is a licensed body-based psychotherapist, coach, and psychedelic guide based in Tampa Bay.

What does Leah Benson discuss in the video script about the marketing of therapy services?

Leah Benson discusses the challenges and ethical dilemmas therapists face in marketing their services, including the use of outdated pseudo-science to legitimize and sell their services.

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy and why did it fall out of favor?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a long-term therapy that explores unconscious processes and early life experiences. It fell out of favor starting in the 1970s due to the rise of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is considered evidence-based and quicker in delivering results.

What is the significance of being evidence-based in therapy and how did it affect marketing?

Being evidence-based means that a therapy follows a protocol that is scientifically tested and can be repeated by any therapist. This became a key selling point for therapists in marketing themselves, even if they did not strictly follow the protocols.

Why did Leah Benson initially find the polyvagal theory appealing for her marketing?

Leah Benson found the polyvagal theory appealing because it provided her with scientific language to market her services, despite the therapy she practiced not strictly following an evidence-based protocol.

What is bioenergetic analysis and how did it fit into Leah's therapeutic approach?

Bioenergetic analysis is a therapy modality that integrates the body into the therapeutic process. It fit into Leah's approach as she wanted to bring awareness of the body and its energetic processes into the work of the talking cure.

What book helped to legitimize body-based psychotherapy and destigmatize therapy?

The book 'The Body Keeps the Score' by a Harvard professor helped legitimize body-based psychotherapy and destigmatize the idea of going to therapy.

Why did Leah Benson feel betrayed by the educators in the field of body-based therapy?

Leah Benson felt betrayed because the educators promoted outdated pseudo-science, which was known to be falsified in certain neuroscience circles, without updating their teachings with the latest scientific understanding of brain function.

What does Leah Benson believe is a better framework for understanding mental health and therapy?

Leah Benson believes that the 21st-century science of brain function, particularly the concept of predictive processing, is a better framework for understanding mental health and how therapy helps.

What advice does Leah Benson give to those seeking therapy to avoid outdated beliefs?

Leah Benson advises people to find therapists who understand predictive processing or to seek out traditional psychoanalysts, as they do not usually rely on outdated scientific theories.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Marketing of Therapy: Selling Outdated Pseudoscience

Leah Benson, a licensed body-based psychotherapist, coach, and psychedelic guide, discusses the challenges of marketing psychotherapy in a competitive field. She admits to initially being influenced by outdated pseudoscientific theories and the pressure to market herself effectively. Benson highlights the shift from psychodynamic psychotherapy to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which gained popularity due to its evidence-based approach and shorter treatment duration. She criticizes the misuse of the term 'evidence-based' by therapists who claim to follow protocols without actually doing so. Benson also reflects on her own journey of building her practice and the importance of aligning marketing strategies with scientific credibility, especially in the age of internet searches and keyword optimization.

05:03

🔬 The Evolution of Therapy: From Pseudoscience to 21st Century Neuroscience

Benson continues her narrative by exploring her search for a therapy modality that integrates the body into the therapeutic process. She initially found the polyvagal theory appealing for its scientific basis but realized it lacked practical clinical applications. Eventually, she discovered bioenergetic analysis, which aligned with her psychoanalytic background and allowed her to incorporate the body into therapy. The release of 'The Body Keeps the Score' by Bessel van der Kolk further legitimized body-based psychotherapy. However, Benson's enthusiasm was dampened when she encountered new information in 2020 that contradicted the outdated pseudoscience she had been promoting. She felt betrayed by educators who continued to propagate these theories despite their falsification. Benson now advocates for a shift towards a more accurate understanding of brain function based on 21st-century neuroscience, which she believes empowers patients and avoids reinforcing harmful beliefs.

10:06

🌟 Moving Forward: Embracing Modern Neuroscience in Therapy

In the final paragraph, Benson concludes her discussion by emphasizing the importance of staying updated with the latest scientific findings in neuroscience. She warns against therapists who may be unintentionally reinforcing negative beliefs by adhering to outdated theories. Benson suggests that clients should be cautious and seek therapists who understand predictive processing or opt for traditional psychoanalysts who do not rely on scientific jargon. She encourages embracing the proven effectiveness of methods that have stood the test of time, supported by contemporary neuroscience, and ends her talk with a reminder to stay informed and vigilant in the ever-evolving field of psychotherapy.

Keywords

💡Psychotherapist

A psychotherapist is a professional who practices psychotherapy, a treatment that uses psychological methods to help individuals with mental health issues or emotional problems. In the video, the speaker, Leah Benson, identifies herself as a licensed psychotherapist, indicating her expertise in this field. The theme of the video revolves around the challenges and ethical considerations of marketing such professional services.

💡Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience refers to beliefs or practices that claim to be scientific but lack the empirical evidence and rigorous methodology characteristic of true science. In the script, the speaker discusses how she was initially influenced by outdated pseudoscientific theories in her practice, which she later realized were not supported by contemporary scientific understanding.

💡Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It is considered evidence-based because it follows a structured protocol that can be measured for effectiveness. The video mentions CBT's popularity and its impact on the perception of other therapeutic approaches, such as psychodynamic psychotherapy.

💡Evidence-based practice

Evidence-based practice in the context of therapy refers to the use of interventions that are supported by scientific evidence, often through clinical trials or studies. The speaker contrasts this with her own approach, which was not initially marketed as evidence-based but later sought to find a scientific grounding to legitimize it in the eyes of potential clients.

💡Polyvagal Theory

The Polyvagal Theory is a concept that links the autonomic nervous system's function to social behavior and evolution. The speaker initially used this theory to provide a scientific basis for her marketing, but later realized its limitations and disconnect with more recent neurological findings.

💡Bioenergetic Analysis

Bioenergetic analysis is a form of body psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between the body's energy systems and emotional processes. The speaker found this modality to be a good fit for her desire to integrate the body into therapy and to have a scientifically grounded approach.

💡The Body Keeps the Score

This is a book by Bessel van der Kolk that explores how trauma is stored in the body and how somatic therapies can aid in healing. The book is mentioned in the script as having a significant impact on legitimizing body-based psychotherapy, although the speaker later criticizes some of its scientific underpinnings.

💡Predictive Processing

Predictive processing is a framework in cognitive neuroscience that explains how the brain makes predictions about the world and updates these predictions based on sensory input. The speaker advocates for this framework as a more accurate and empowering understanding of brain function compared to older theories.

💡Neuroscience

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system and brain function. The video discusses the evolution of the speaker's understanding of neuroscience and how it influenced her perspective on therapy and the need to update practices based on current scientific knowledge.

💡Marketing

In the context of the video, marketing refers to the strategies used by therapists to promote their services to potential clients. The speaker reflects on the ethical challenges of marketing in the therapy field, especially when it involves the use of scientific language and concepts that may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date.

💡Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a method of treating mental illness that explores the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences. The speaker mentions her own psychoanalysis and how traditional psychoanalytic methods have stood the test of time, despite not being based on the latest neuroscience.

Highlights

Leah Benson, a licensed body-based psychotherapist, coach, and psychedelic guide, discusses the marketing challenges faced by psychotherapists.

Benson admits to being influenced by outdated pseudoscience during her training and early career.

The decline in popularity of long-term psychotherapy since the 1970s due to the rise of evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Therapists claiming to provide evidence-based therapy as a marketing strategy, even without following specific protocols.

The importance of using science to market private practice services in the insurance-dominated landscape.

Benson's struggle to market her psychodynamic psychotherapy practice without relying on evidence-based therapy claims.

The role of Google searches and keywords in attracting clients to therapy practices.

Benson's exploration of the polyvagal theory as a means to market her services with scientific credibility.

The emergence of bioenergetic analysis as a therapy modality that integrates the body into the therapeutic process.

The publication of 'The Body Keeps the Score' and its impact on legitimizing body-based psychotherapy.

Benson's realization in 2020 that the polyvagal theory and related concepts were outdated and not supported by current neuroscience.

The feeling of betrayal by educators promoting outdated theories despite newer scientific understanding.

Benson's efforts to inform others in the therapy community about the outdated nature of certain theories.

The importance of understanding 21st-century brain function for a more empowering framework of mental health.

The potential for therapists to inadvertently reinforce harmful beliefs through outdated theories.

The recommendation to seek therapists who understand predictive processing or traditional psychoanalysts.

Benson's closing remarks on the significance of staying informed about current scientific understanding in therapy.

Transcripts

let's face it no one is exempt from the

marketing game not even psychotherapists

so buy or

beware hey everybody my name is Leah

Benson and I'm a licensed body-based

psychotherapist coach and psychedelic

guide in Tampa Bay and today I'm going

to explain my view on how we got to the

point where therapists are out there

explaining outdated pseudo science to

legitimize and Market what they sell

let me Begin by admitting that I too was

under the spell of a bunch of outdated

pseudo science for a while I had

completed my required training and my

own 10-year psycho analysis and I was

out there in the Wilds of Private

Practice working to acquire clients

without being part of an insurance

company Network I needed to let's be

honest I needed to sell myself and I do

mean myself because in the work I do I

am my instrument and even though what

makes me good at what I do is the

10-year psycho analysis I had the years

of case consultation with seasoned

psychoanalysts that I did and the

ongoing personal work I still do on a

regular basis that's not a good sales

pitch or at least it wasn't at the time

I started selling my

services especially when the kind of

therapy I do was and often still is the

butt of nearly every therapy joke out

there see I do psychodynamic

Psychotherapy which is generally

considered a long-term therapy even if

it doesn't always last 10 years like

mine did and long-term Psychotherapy

fell out of favor starting in the 1970s

when cognitive behavioral therapy got

popular and cognitive behavioral or CBT

got popular because it was evidence

based which means like in any scientific

study there's a protocol written in an

instruction manual that is followed to a

te and can be

repeated by anybody it doesn't take a

seasoned professional with a lot of

experience to do

it and it's quick it only takes 8 to 12

sessions to complete the protocol and

the problem is solved according to the

studies that proved its

efficacy this is what evidence-based

practice means instruction manual

therapy that can be performed by any

therapist so anyway it's more

complicated than that but that is the

gist and when this short form therapy

was popularized and legitimized with

scientific studies and science

jargon then as a therapist

to signal that you were any good you had

to tell everyone that you were providing

evidence-based therapy and the truth is

most therapists weren't doing protocols

they just claimed they were doing

evidencebased treatment to Market

themselves and they still

do fast forward from that origin story

of evidence-based to this new millennium

when insurance companies and farmer run

the the show and it's obvious to anyone

marketing their private practice that

science is the way to sell your

services so there I was back in 2005

building my private psychodynamic

Psychotherapy practice using a method

that was wellknown anecdotally to be

effective at changing people's lives

without a way to signal to people that

it was legitimate and on top of it this

was right right at the point when people

were beginning to find their therapists

through Google searches meaning keywords

meaning make sure you're saying things

that will get you at the top of the

rankings I didn't want to say I did CBT

when actually I didn't follow an

instruction manual to help people

because people are more complicated than

that and it wasn't a symptom or two that

people wanted to change they wanted

their lives to feel better and they

could couldn't figure out why they

didn't enter my own seduction by the

poly vagel Theory and other outdated

science by 2009 2010 I was deep in the

throws of learning how to Market as well

as deep into the awareness that many

people on my couch doing this talking

cure with me were not getting to the

feeling parts of therapy that I knew

were

important I started searching and I ran

across ideas like molecules of emotion

the biology of

belief and I even considered getting

licensed as a massage therapist for some

vague reason I don't really remember and

then I found the poly vagal Theory which

gave me some science to hang my

marketing on and that was cool but it

still didn't give me a concrete way to

bring the body into therapy because all

the clinical application of the poly

vagal Theory certification courses

didn't exist

yet so I kept searching and as luck

would have it bioenergetic analysis fell

into my lap in

2013 finally I had found a therapy

modality that would allow me to bring

the body into therapy exactly as I had

wanted to do for

years best of all it was an outgrowth of

the psychoanalytic tradition I was

already practiced in so it was perfect

that was a good phase I had the poly

vagel Theory to give me some scientific

sounding marketing copy and in the

second year of training and bioenergetic

Analysis the now very famous book the

body keeps the score came out by a

Harvard guy who all at once legitimized

body-based

Psychotherapy and

destigmatized the idea of going to

therapy it was awesome I was being

trained and how to bring awareness of

the body and its energetic processes

into the work of the talking cure and

what I was doing was supported by

science

woohoo and then it all came crumbling

down in

2020 while everyone else was discovering

the body keeps the score book and

jumping on board with poly vagel ideas

during the pandemic lockdowns I was

smacking face first into information

that undermined everything about that

science much to my shin it slowly dawned

on me over the period of a year that

there was no reconciling the new

information about brain function I was

learning with the outdated pseudo

science of the poly vagal idea and the

rational emotional primitive brain ideas

presented in the body keeps the score

and taught by the Le leading Educators

in the field that I'd been studying

with and man was that a

blow I mean to realize I'd spent the

better part of a decade marketing my

services with the language of outdated

pseudo

science I felt like a real

dope and I also felt betrayed by the

teachers in the field who had promoted

that outdated pseudo science even though

it was well known in certain

Neuroscience circles to have been

falsified for

decades and I felt desperate to tell

everyone I knew in the body based

therapy World about it but guess what

they didn't want to hear it in fact a

lot of them still don't want

to so now when I have extra energy to

spend I make snarky comments on the

social media profiles of people who know

better but are still promoting the stuff

and otherwise I go about my business

telling you guys about it because right

now almost no one else is and it matters

because the 21st century science of

brain function is a better framework for

understanding your mental health it's a

better way of understanding how therapy

helps you and it empowers you in a way

the old Frameworks simply do not in fact

in those Frameworks you are a victim a

victim to A Primitive and emotional

brain and to a body that's always

betraying you when in fact none of this

is

true to top it off because of the 21st

century understanding of how brains

actually work what we know is that what

happens when you believe those ideas you

are much more likely to remain a victim

because that's what brains do they look

for evidence of their

beliefs so buyer

beware your therapist may be helping you

solidify bad beliefs and if you don't

want that stay away from them and their

outdated

science find people who understand

predictive processing or just find

yourself a good oldfashioned monit day

psychoanalyst cuz they don't usually

talk about science

at all they just use a method that has

been proven effective for 140 years that

the 21st century science of brain

function explains

perfectly and that's it for today

everybody see you next time

[Music]