Susan K. Bertelson, Ph.D.

(770) 668-0350

Recent research studies have reported findings that are very exciting to those of us who practice psychotherapy.  These studies have found evidence that both medication therapy and psychotherapy affect brain functioning.  While these findings might be expected in regard to medication therapy, it is gratifying to learn that psychological interventions also may impact a biological function such as brain activity.

Specifically, while medication appears to affect brain functioning primarily in the areas of the brain that regulate an individual’s moods, psychotherapy appears to affect brain functioning primarily in the areas that direct and control an individual’s cognitive functions.  In regard to the latter, psychotherapy helps people to think and reason about themselves and their situations differently, and these psychological activities are also mediated by brain activity.  Another exciting finding research finding in regard to psychotherapy is that changes in the brain fostered by psychological interventions appear to be long-lasting.

The findings of the present brain research indicate that psychotherapy is not only useful but can produce powerful changes at many levels of functioning.  Hopefully, future research will verify these findings as well as provide further information regarding the specific ways that changes in brain activity occur.