What People Want From Therapy with Linda Michaels

In this interview podcast, the host speaks with Dr. Linda Michaels about her new book, "Advancing Psychotherapy for the Next Generation: Humanizing Mental Health Policy and Practice," and the study her group, the Psychotherapy Action Network, conducted on what people want from therapy. Dr. Michaels discusses the forces that push for short-term therapy, such as insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies, and how these contrast with what the public desires: depth therapy focused on understanding the root causes of their issues. The conversation explores the challenges in the mental healthcare system, including the influence of private equity, limitations in insurance coverage, and the importance of the therapeutic relationship. They emphasize the need for longer-term therapy, patient preferences, and the value of feeling heard and understood in the therapeutic process, as well as the need to educate the public on the benefits of depth therapy and how to find a good therapist.