--- title: "RRT vs. Traditional Talk Therapy | McFadden Institute" url: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/approach/rrt-vs-talk-therapy description: "Understanding a problem and being free of it are two different jobs. How RRT differs from weekly talk therapy, and when each one fits." lang: en --- How RRT works # RRT vs. traditional talk therapy Before anything else: talk therapy is valuable. It has helped a great many people, and for some it's exactly what they need. This page isn't a case against it. It's an explanation of why the way I work is different, and why someone who has spent years in weekly therapy might still find something useful here. ## What traditional talk therapy does well Most talk therapy happens weekly, in sessions of around 50 minutes, over months or years. A lot of it is about understanding: where a pattern came from, how it plays out, what it means. There's a relationship at the center, with someone who knows your story and is there week after week. That steady support matters. For people going through a long, hard season, or who want a consistent place to think out loud, it can be the right thing. Insight can be enough for some people to change course. ## Understanding and being free of it are different jobs Here's a common gap. Someone can explain their anxiety or their depression (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/specialties/depression) in real depth. They know when it started, what triggers it, why it made sense at the time. And it still happens. The understanding is real. The reaction hasn't moved. That's not because they didn't try hard enough. Insight alone doesn't always change the reflexive patterns underneath. The part of the mind that understands isn't always the part that reacts. ## What RRT focuses on instead Rapid Resolution Therapy (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/approach/rapid-resolution-therapy) works with how the mind is holding an experience, below the level of the story. We still talk, a lot, but the conversation is aimed at the charge underneath rather than at explaining it more fully. Sessions are longer, 90 minutes, and focused. We name what you want to be different, work on it directly, and look at what shifted. There's a full walk-through on how a 90-minute session works (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/approach/90-minute-sessions). ## When weekly support is the better fit If what you want is ongoing, week-to-week companionship through a hard time, a traditional weekly practice may suit you better, and I'll say so. The same goes if you're in crisis and need more urgent support than a scheduled online practice can offer. Some people do both at different times: focused work on a specific experience, then ongoing support, or the other way round. There isn't one right answer. If you've already spent time in therapy and still feel stuck, I've written more for anyone who has tried therapy before (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/who-i-help/tried-therapy-before). ## What it's like to try something different People who've been in therapy for a long time sometimes find RRT disorienting at first. It's more direct. There's less going back over the history. It can be surprisingly light for such heavy subjects. Some find that refreshing; some don't. Both reactions are fine. You stay in the driver's seat. If something isn't working, we adjust in the room. And you don't have to give up anything that has helped you before. If you want to know a little more about who you'd be working with, there's an about page (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/about). ## Being honest about expectations I can't promise that a different approach will succeed where others didn't. What I can say is that RRT is aimed at something different, the reflexive layer that insight often doesn't reach. That makes it worth trying for some people. Whether it's right for you is something we can explore in a free 15-minute call. ## A practical comparison Weekly talk therapy usually means around 50 minutes, once a week, often for months or longer, with a strong focus on understanding and support. Sessions with me are 90 minutes, booked as needed rather than on a fixed weekly track, and focused on changing how an experience is being held. Cost is structured differently too. Many weekly therapists work with insurance. My practice is private pay at $225 per 90-minute session, with no insurance billed. Neither model is right for everyone, and it's worth thinking about what suits your life, your budget and what you want out of therapy. If you're still unsure, a free 15-minute consultation is a good place to talk it through. No paperwork, no pressure. ## Questions people ask ### Is talk therapy a waste of time? No. Talk therapy helps many people, and ongoing weekly support is the right fit for some. RRT is a different approach aimed at a different layer, not a replacement for everything else. ### Does RRT involve talking at all? Yes, plenty. It's conversational. The difference is what the conversation focuses on: how the mind is holding an experience, rather than going over the story in detail. ### Why would this work if years of therapy didn't? Honestly, there's no guarantee it will. It targets something different from understanding-focused work, which is why some people who have tried other therapy find it worth trying. We can talk about fit in a free consultation. Image: Open golden grassland at dusk with a single tree on the horizon. (https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/__l5e/assets-v1/01145626-adff-4fe0-953d-4ccaaa0f81ed/plains-dusk.jpg) Curious whether this could fit for you? Book a free consultation: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/contact Rapid Resolution Therapy is a therapeutic approach, not a guarantee of specific results and not a substitute for medical care. Every person's experience is different and individual outcomes vary. Back to home: https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/ Free consultation ยท no pressure ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": [ "MedicalBusiness", "ProfessionalService" ], "@id": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/#practice", "name": "McFadden Institute", "legalName": "McFadden Institute, LLC", "url": "https://mcfaddeninstitute.com/", "description": "Online psychotherapy for adults in Florida using Rapid Resolution Therapy, for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and burnout. 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