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What I'd like to see is a comparison of psychotherapy to just paying a normal person with common sense but no psychological training to sit and listen and talk to people to help with their issues.

I'm convinced that the latter would be more effective most of the time, but I'd love to see it studied.

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Same, I often feel that therapy is filling in a gap that really should be filled by friends and communities. Therapists at least have the training to not tell depressed people to cheer up, though.

Ironically friends and family are usually the first to recommend therapy.

I’m stuck in this situation at the moment. I’m seeing a therapist but my main problem is loneliness. I find I look forward to our sessions just because I get the chance to talk to someone for an hour, but I’m not sure whether I’m gaining much else from the therapy.

I saw a study once - at least it was mentioned in my psychology text book that the results were about the same.

I'd be very interested in seeing that study or text book.

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