What is Evidence-Based Practice?

At Riverstone Counseling we believe every family deserves care that is compassionate, personalized, and backed by science.

That’s why we are committed to using an evidence-based practice—because your child’s well-being is too important to leave to chance.

What is Evidence-Based Practice?

Evidence-Based Practice is an approach to care that integrates the following three components:

  1. Evidence-based treatments backed by high quality scientific research

  2. Clinical expertise of the therapist

  3. The needs, values, and preferences of the client and their family

A therapist using evidence-based practices will bring together these three components with the goal of providing care that is effective, personalized, and regularly monitored to make sure it is helping.

Choosing an Evidence-Based Treatment

The most significant component of evidence-based practice is to select an appropriate evidence-based treatment shown to be effective based on the most up-to-date, high quality scientific research. Why does research matter? Studies show that therapists are not very good at predicting what treatment will work best for a particular client based on personal judgment alone. Evidence-based treatments are not based on trends, personal opinions, or anecdotal success stories. Instead, they are grounded in decades of research and clinical trials that carefully evaluate how well a treatment works. The most reliable studies use randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are considered the gold standard in medical and psychological research. These trials compare different treatments and control groups to determine which approaches consistently lead to symptom reduction, improved functioning, and long-term recovery.

When your child receives an evidence-based treatment, they are benefiting from methods that have been tested and refined to address specific mental health challenges. These therapies are designed to target the symptoms your child is experiencing—whether it’s anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, or behavioral difficulties—and are delivered in a structured, developmentally appropriate way. For example, approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression, or Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, have decades of research showing they lead to real, lasting improvements. These methods don’t just manage symptoms during treatment—they teach skills your child can use for life.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

As a parent, you play a vital role in your child’s treatment. Here are a few questions you can ask to make sure your child is receiving evidence-based care:

  • What treatment approach do you recommend, and is it evidence-based for my child’s condition?

  • Can you share research or guidelines that support this treatment?

  • How will you measure progress and adjust the treatment plan if needed?

  • What skills will my child (and our family) learn during this process?

  • How can I support my child’s progress at home?

Asking these questions helps you feel confident that your child’s care is grounded in proven methods and tailored to their unique needs.