Abstract
Although there is an overwhelming amount of evidence suggesting the efficacy of psychotherapies and that there are consistent positive effects for a range of mental disorders, it has been acknowledged that research is lacking regarding the potential iatrogenic effects of psychological interventions. This paper focuses on whether psychological interventions can cause harm, particularly iatrogenic harm, which refers to unexpected adverse effects directly caused by the treatment itself. It aims to critically assess whether our current approaches are truly beneficial or if they have unintended negative consequences, and explore potential avenues for improvement. The results indicate that cultural mismatch between therapist and patient was a source of negative experiences for some participants. Additionally, CBT and individual therapy were associated with less harm compared to multiple forms of treatment. Most participants experienced harmful experiences throughout their therapy experience, such as boundaries being crossed, unhelpful techniques, or hurtful comments from their therapist. Most participants also experienced positive experiences in therapy, such as improving their mental health outcomes, having a place to discuss their feelings, and having therapists who listened to them. This paper examines the implications of these findings for the future of psychological interventions as a route to mitigate harm.