Evidence-Based Therapy represents a shift within the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, and mental health which aims to monitor and quantify the efficacy of psychotherapeutic treatments for the purpose of providing services that have research supporting their effectiveness. Essentially, evidence-based therapy (EBT), also commonly referred to as evidence-based practice (EBP), is any form of therapy that has been shown to be effective by peer-reviewed, randomized-controlled trials. EBT has been defined as “conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients” (Sackett et al., 1996). According to the American Psychological Association, evidence-based practices are considered to be ’best practice’ and represent one of the preferred approaches when treating psychological symptoms.
Evidence-based practice has two main goals. These include, first, an enhanced quality of services being offered, and second, greater accountability. There are a wide variety of evidence-based therapies that have research demonstrating their effectiveness at treating specific symptoms. At Toronto Psychological Services, we primarily utilize Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, commonly referred to as CBT, for its wide-ranging acceptance within evidence-based practice. Recently, a number of analyses have found a substantial amount of evidence supporting of the effectiveness of CBT in treating adult anxiety (Clarke, Hill, & Charman, 2017; Goldin, Ziv, Jazaieri, Hahn, Heimberg, & Gross, 2013), depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (Iverson et al., 2011), psychosis (Naeem et al., 2015), body dysmorphic disorder (Slomski, 2019; Veale et al., 2014) and eating disorders (Atwood & Friedman, 2019), among other psychological difficulties. When working alongside children, out therapists utilize Cognitive Play Therapy. Cognitive Play Therapy, an evidence-based therapy, has been found to significantly reduce symptoms of ADHD (Abdollahian, Mokhber, Balaghi, & Moharrari, 2013), aggression (Rostami et al., 2017), and anxiety (Rajeswari et al., 2019), and has been found to have a positive effect on children’s social skills (Mazloomi, Nasab, & Mohammadi, 2014), in addition to having a positive impact on a number of other psychological issues children face. In our work with people in intimate relationships, we draw on Emotionally- Focused Couples Therapy, an evidence-based therapy that has been found to strengthen attachment bonds, resolve attachment injuries, improve dyadic satisfaction (Johnson & Makinen, 2006). Because these approaches to therapy are situated within evidence- based practices, our therapists adopt these methods to ensure you receive professional services that are both accountable and of high quality.
At Toronto Psychological Services, we offer short and long-term psychotherapy services for children, adolescents, adults, families, groups, and couples and/or relationship constellations. For more information about our the evidence-based therapies provided, or to book an intake appointment with one of our clinical therapists, call (416) 531-0727 or email info@torontopsychologicalservices.com.