The effectiveness of the Bernhardt Method is well documented by over 30 studies. It is considered a particularly gentle alternative to conventional therapies, as it avoids the use of psychotropic drugs and makes painful confrontation therapy unnecessary.
Skeptics sometimes criticize that there hasn’t been a large, randomized study on the Bernhardt Method as a whole. However, they overlook the fact that there are indeed studies on each individual element of the Bernhardt Method, all of which show positive results.
Overview of All Topics
The Origin of the Bernhardt Method
From 2010 to 2016, Klaus Bernhardt, the director of the Institute for Modern Psychotherapy, analyzed hundreds of scientific studies. The goal was to compare all common therapeutic approaches for treating anxiety and depression and rank them according to their effectiveness. This analysis revealed that some therapy methods, still regularly used today, have been under criticism for years. At the same time, highly effective methods such as metacognitive therapy were rarely implemented.
This led to the creation of three categories:
- Therapeutic approaches proven to be particularly effective
- Therapeutic approaches whose effectiveness is disputed
- Therapeutic approaches suspected of doing more harm than good
To advance the development of faster and more pleasant anxiety therapy, Klaus Bernhardt focused exclusively on the most effective therapeutic approaches. By aligning these methods with the latest findings in brain research, he was able to demonstrate that the effectiveness of certain techniques could be significantly enhanced when taking into account patients’ personality traits, as well as their cognitive strengths and weaknesses. For example, individuals with strong visual tendencies benefit from different methods than those who are more auditory.
After this novel combination of various therapeutic methods proved superior to standard therapy in hundreds of patients, Klaus Bernhardt took the next step. In 2017, he and his wife, Daniela Bernhardt, a therapist specializing in anxiety and couples therapy, founded the Institute for Modern Psychotherapy in Berlin. Since then, they have collaborated with psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and neuroscientists to elevate psychotherapy to the next level.
Thus, the Bernhardt Method was born—an easy-to-apply self-therapy that effectively treats anxiety and even depression. It achieves this without the use of medications, without exposure therapy, and without the lengthy processing of traumatic experiences. Each component of the Bernhardt Method has been verified by studies from reputable universities and research institutions, and as of 2024, it is considered among the most efficient options available in psychotherapy today.
Studies on Each Individual Component of the Bernhardt Method
Progress in psychotherapy almost inevitably means that previously accepted theories must be replaced or at least partially corrected by new ones. It is part of the scientific dialogue that “representatives of outdated knowledge” often criticize new developments. However, in the end, what proves to work best for those affected prevails.
We have been able to prove and document at the Institute for Modern Psychotherapy that the Bernhardt Method works better than conventional therapies, with thousands of patients to date. Furthermore, over 300 psychiatrists, psychotherapists, psychologists, and licensed alternative psychotherapists who have attended training with us since 2018 confirm that the Bernhardt Method has also led to faster and more sustainable therapeutic successes in their practices. It’s no surprise, as the effectiveness of each individual component of the Bernhardt Method is well supported by studies. Here are just a few of them:
Metakognitive Therapie: Ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Bernhardt-Methode
In cognitive behavioral therapy, the focus should be less on what anxious, depressive, or obsessive individuals are thinking and more on how they come to give their negative thoughts so much significance. Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) excels at helping individuals reduce the importance they place on these thoughts, thus initiating the healing process. This is why MCT is a fundamental part of the Bernhardt Method.
Here is the relevant study on metacognitive therapy:
Effectiveness of the Pitching Technique Clearly Proven by Study
The Pitching Technique is one of several anxiety-stopping techniques we have successfully used with anxiety patients for years. This simple and highly humorous method of self-distancing has helped many anxiety sufferers stop emerging anxiety within seconds. Anyone interested can easily learn the pitching technique through our online online therapy, “How to Calm Anxiety”. The effectiveness of this approach has also been demonstrated in a study, which you can learn more about here:
Neuroplasticity: New Brain Cells Need Space
New brain cells erase old memories. This is why it’s neither useful nor necessary to repeatedly discuss traumatic experiences until they are “processed.” In fact, doing so can even reinforce the trauma on a neural level. Instead, those who use the 10-sentence method and the 5-channel technique—both essential components of the Bernhardt method—to focus intensely on positive fantasies, where life feels easy and joyful again, can effectively erase memories of negative experiences. From a neuroplasticity perspective, existing brain cells must first be broken down to make room for new ones. There is an intriguing study on this, published in the renowned Nature magazine, which you can learn more about here:
An Important Note on Neuroplasticity
The brain cells that are primarily broken down are those where memories are stored that we don’t continuously recall. This is why exposure therapy becomes less helpful at a certain stage of anxiety disorders. A psychotherapy approach that aims to optimize the brain’s neuroplasticity should guide the patient’s focus in such a way that they temporarily forget to think about their problems. This can only be achieved through “genuine enthusiasm,” such as through positive storytelling or by developing highly desirable goals.
How well therapists manage to inspire their patients can be measured by two key indicators:
- How often does genuine laughter occur during therapy?
- How much better the patient feels at the end of the session.
Write Down Especially Positive Experiences—The Effect is Incredible
Writing down particularly positive experiences can significantly improve both health and mood. Since this effect is measurable after just three days and lasts for several months, it plays an important role in our therapy as well. You can find the relevant study here:
Meditation leads to changes in brain structure.
People who meditate regularly are already aware that meditation offers benefits beyond a sense of relaxation. A study has now demonstrated that regular meditation can also improve cognitive performance. Additionally, participants reported greater physical well-being. The study also confirmed changes in brain structure as a result of the meditation exercises. Harvard University has published this insightful article on the topic:
With the 10-Sentence Method we developed, you also enter a meditation-like state. However, this occurs at a time when the brain is particularly receptive to positive reprogramming—right before going to sleep. Additionally, the 5-Channel Technique ensures that all sensory channels are engaged. As a result, the positive changes in brain structure are particularly pronounced and long-lasting.
Talking Too Much About Traumatic Experiences Can Be Harmful
“Critical Incident Stress Debriefing” (CISD) is a specific form of psychological debriefing often used, particularly with police officers, firefighters, disaster relief workers, and emergency medical responders, to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after dramatic incidents. However, studies have shown that “well-intended” does not always mean “well-executed.”
In fact, this approach, which is also found in talk and group therapies for anxiety patients, increases the risk of developing PTSD. This is a prime example of therapeutic methods that we consciously avoid within the Bernhardt Method, even though they are still widely used worldwide. Here is one of the mentioned studies:
Criticism Is Harmful to Mental Health
If you find yourself in an environment where criticism is part of everyday life, it’s no surprise that mental health may suffer as a result. This is why the Bernhardt Method places much more emphasis on areas such as relationships, work, and social environment than, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy typically does.
For instance, panic attacks are often an urgent signal from the psyche that a change in one of these areas is long overdue. You wouldn’t believe how typically panic attacks vanish almost overnight simply because someone had the courage to find a better job or end a toxic relationship.
The book “Social Neuroscience: Brain, Mind, and Society” by Russell K. Schutt, Larry J. Seidman, and Matcheri S. Keshavan cites dozens of studies that confirm this reality.
Talking about problems doesn’t make them less burdensome.
People who share their negative emotions with others often believe that this helps them release burdensome feelings more quickly. This is why talk and group therapy sessions are frequently held in psychosomatic clinics. Unfortunately, more and more studies are showing that this is a misconception:
Focusing on positive aspects of life has a proven effect against depression.
In contrast, deliberately focusing on the beautiful things in life has been shown to effectively counter depression. If talk and group therapies were used more to shift the focus toward positive aspects through storytelling and hypnotic language patterns, significantly more individuals would benefit from these therapeutic approaches. This is not only confirmed by the experiences we have had with the Bernhardt Method but also by the following studies:
It’s Important to Note: Motivation is a Challenge for Those with Depression or Anxiety
It’s only fair to mention that people suffering from depression or anxiety are not easily motivated. Internal resistance, also known as reactance, can significantly block them from making progress. Fortunately, psychology offers a small trick that can switch off reactance within seconds. And this trick, as you may have guessed, is also a key component of the Bernhardt Method and a major reason why patients respond so positively to it.
What Occupies Us Daily Shapes the Architecture of Our Brain
The 10-Sentence Method and the 5-Channel Technique are two excellent methods for positively influencing the brains of anxiety and depression patients. The comfort and effectiveness of this self-therapy are also reflected in the many testimonials we’ve received from former patients. The fact remains: what we focus on intensely shapes the architecture of our brain. This has been proven in a study, which we have linked here for you:
Troy A.
Tampa, Florida