Is therapy right for me?
Choosing family counseling services, children's counseling, or individual counseling for you can be a difficult choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing life issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce, death or relocating to a
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client.
However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:
~Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
~If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person. The therapist is required to notify the police.
~If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if an individual does not cooperate, additional measures may need to be taken.
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems. How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles with your children and family, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, and creative blocks. Therapists can empower you to resolve your problems by learning new skills and gaining a fresh perspective rather than the therapist imposing solutions on you.
The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. (and no, therapy is not just for "crazy" people. On the contrary, therapy is for individuals who want to improve their lives and put an end to the burdensome lives they have been living.)
By actively participating in therapy, you can expect to:
~End chronic suffering and begin developing the satisfying life you've always wanted
~Grow stronger with a greater understanding of who you are, your goals and your values
~Develop skills to create closer connections to the ones you love
~ Learn new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
~Change hurtful behavior patterns by developing healthy new behaviors
~Manage anger, grief, depression and other emotional pressures without letting them manage you
What is therapy like?
Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around fifty minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.
There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. It is important to process what has been discussed and to integrate it into your life between sessions. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions. People seeking therapy work diligently to improve their lives by building upon their existing strengths with the guidance of the therapist.
Is medication a substitute for therapy?
In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you. It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness.