This post was inspired by a story I came across on MSNBC (for full story). Basically, psychiatrists (MDs) have been increasingly relying on medication and less on psychotherapy (or just talk therapy). Apparently, insurance companies reimburse at higher rates for 15-minute medication visits compared to 45-minute talk therapy visits. I’m sure that has a lot to do with this trend.

This is disturbing news to me. Not because I wholeheartedly believe in the merits of psychotherapy or because I work at a school of professional psychology (our graduates aren’t allowed to prescribe medication because they’re not MDs), but because it confirms my rather unscientific theory that America is relying too much on medication. There’s more to our selves than pills can “fix” or adjust. What does this say about our nation and culture?

Anecdotally speaking, I’ve observed that a lot of people these days seem to feel isolated. It’s something of a paradox considering that the world is shrinking and that we can stay in communication with each other digitally 24/7 without ever seeing each other face-to-face. But perhaps what is hurting some of these people who seek therapy is not only physiological but also emotional and spiritual. I can point to a number of times in my life where I’ve talked to a friend about something that had been bugging me and I felt a million times better. It wasn’t always because the issue was resolved but because being in contact with another person provides some energy, boost, or vitality that cannot otherwise be obtained.

Recently, I’ve discovered just as poor I am at communicating my thoughts clearly. This tends to magnify with less personal forms of communication. I stink at having serious conversations on gchat and am only slightly better on the phone. Face-to-face is the way to go! To support my point:

Psychotherapy uses verbal methods to get patients to explore their emotional life, thoughts or behavior. The goal is to ease symptoms, sometimes through getting the patient to change behavior or mental habits.

Its benefits can be seen in brain imaging studies, said Dr. Eric Plakun, who leads an American Psychiatric Association committee working to restore interest in psychotherapy by psychiatrists.

“The couch is far from dead,” Plakun said. “The couch turns out to be an effective 21st century treatment.”

Whether you take this as an advertisement for my school or not is up to you! But seriously, why are we so obsessed with quick fixes? Talking it out may take longer, but chances are, the healing will be more long-term than a pill can promise.