I continue to be amazed by PBA’s attitude (and some others, too). The mental health field has not been snake oil for many, many years. Yet, it is correct to note that it has been dominated by theory, with various efforts invested in proving things scientifically. Psychology remains a “soft” science, with a limited amount of the concepts proven beyond a shadow of doubt. But it is a science, and anything can be subjected to research to prove or disprove it. I will not entertain debate on the validity of scientific method.
The average mental health clinician is equipped with training that included background if not supervised experience in various therapeutic approaches. Traditional Freudian psychoanalysis still exists today, but has been basically abandoned by most of the mainstream clinicians. Still, most will accept many of the premises of psychoanalytic theory, even though they are not recognized as being relevant to applied psychology. Other therapies also abound. Most clinicians do what they were trained to do, many gaining additional skills through additional training after their degree and formally supervised work.
CBT is one of those approaches that has been subjected to massive research, and the reports of its efficacy cannot be justifiably dismissed. Having noted that, not every clinician is adept at it, and not every case is best treated with it. Often, elements of CBT are included in a therapy plan, and this is done because there are judgment calls by the clinician to use another approach as the main intervention. Still, efforts to dismiss it are simply irresponsible. It remains true that it is not the cure-all for every condition or for every client.
I will repeat my earlier assertion. When I want to seek an eitzah about therapy, I will pose my questions to trained experts in the field, not someone in the checkout line in Shoprite or Pathmark, nor someone on the internet whose credentials are unknown.
Now maybe that is not the answer you want to hear, but I will not be dishonest and lie to you to please your agenda.