The last few years have seen an increase in clinical researchthat uses the scientific method for its validation, mainly due tothe influence of the empirically supported treatments (ESTs)movement that started in the 1990s. The article describes thebackground, objectives, and results of ESTs, as well as two intervention models that complement them: one that promotesresearch on the type of therapeutic relation that guaranteesgreater success of the therapies, and one that seeks to optimizemental health care systems. The conclusion is that mostESTs are techniques based on experimental psychology, andthat the scientific method is the best tool available to addressthe complex problem of human behavior.