Mental Health Professionals in Puerto Rico Use Evidence-Based Therapies

What is it about?

This study explores which types of psychological treatments are being used by mental health professionals—like psychologists, social workers, and counselors—in Puerto Rico. Researchers surveyed 237 professionals to understand how often they use therapies that have strong scientific support (like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) compared to those with less or no proven effectiveness. The study also looked at how factors like job setting (private or public agency), training, and attitudes influenced what kinds of treatments they used.

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Photo by Fa Barboza on Unsplash

Photo by Fa Barboza on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Puerto Ricans face high rates of mental health problems, yet often lack access to high-quality, evidence-based care. This research is one of the first to examine how often mental health providers on the island actually use treatments backed by science, and what helps or prevents them from doing so. The findings show that while many professionals use effective therapies, others rely on less-supported or experimental approaches—often due to a lack of training, resources, or culturally adapted materials. This work highlights the need for better training, support, and culturally relevant adaptations of proven therapies to improve care across the island.