[Video] Rick Hanson: Why Therapy Outcomes Haven’t Improved in 40 Years

There’s a striking statistic that Dr. Rick Hanson shares that may come as a surprise to some: research suggests that average outcomes in psychotherapy haven’t meaningfully improved in over 40 years.

The reason for this, he says, is that the field has become increasingly skilled at helping clients have beneficial experiences, but the work of helping those experiences become lasting inner change has largely been left out.

In this video, Dr. Hanson shares the research — and what he believes the field needs to do differently.

On-Demand Workshop with Rick Hanson!

We’re thrilled to share a 90-minute on-demand workshop with Rick Hanson — Creating Lasting Change in Therapy: Neuroplasticity for Resilience and Inner Resources | Learn more and register here >>

On-Demand Workshop with Rick Hanson!

We’re thrilled to share a 90-minute on-demand workshop with Rick Hanson — Creating Lasting Change in Therapy: Neuroplasticity for Resilience and Inner Resources.

In this 90-minute experiential workshop, Rick Hanson explores how therapists can help clients move beyond temporary insight and support healing that becomes more deeply rooted, embodied, and lasting over time. Drawing from neuroscience, mindfulness, and positive neuroplasticity, he shares practical approaches for helping clients build resilience, strengthen inner resources, and cultivate enduring emotional well-being.

In this workshop you will learn:

  • How neuroplasticity shapes emotional healing, resilience, and long-term growth
  • Practical ways to help beneficial experiences become more deeply internalized and embodied
  • How therapists can support clients in building lasting inner resources such as calm, self-worth, compassion, confidence, and resilience
  • How to work with pain and difficult emotions while also strengthening positive emotional resources
  • Experiential practices for helping clients “take in the good” and cultivate enduring emotional capacities

Plus:

  • Get lifetime access to the recording and transcript

Learn more and register for the On-Demand Workshop >>

About Rick Hanson, PhD

Rick Hanson, PhD is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and NYT best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages, and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone. He’s the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 25 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those in need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in Northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.

Learn more at rickhanson.net