Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about therapy that you may find helpful if you are still unsure whether or not your are ready for therapy or if therapy is right for you...
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
How long will it take and what can I do to help the process?
How can Therapy Help me?
Therapy can be beneficial to you in many ways. Therapists can be there to listen and help you make sense of the things you are dealing with, as well as provide support, understanding, guidance, insight, problem-solving skills and
coping skills for a variety of issues, struggles or problems you may be facing including: depression, anxiety, relationship issues, unresolved issues past or present, grief/loss, stress management, trauma, career related issues,
self-esteem issues, conflict resolution, family issues, life transitions, and many more. Often times, people discover that therapists can be an unexpected, but significant asset to helping their clients achieve and manage personal
growth, improved relationships, and better handle the stresses of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. You can obtain many benefits from therapy
including the ones listed above, as well as others you may discover on your own personal journey in therapy; but the key to gaining the most benefit is having an open mind towards learning to use the therapeutic process and practice
all you learn in your daily life.
The Following is a list of just a few benefits you could attain from therapy:
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Developing skills for improving your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family, marriage, or relationships
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
There’s a reason you’re here visiting this site at this moment. We all go through difficult, confusing, or trying times in life. Maybe you have even gotten through them successfully without outside help in the past, but there may be times when you need a little extra help or support with whatever it is you may be facing or dealing with now. Maybe there’s a reason the strengths and skills you had before aren’t working now, such as feeling overwhelmed with too many things all at once; regardless of the reasons, therapy can help you to identify those strengths and/or learn new ones to help you navigate this current situation successfully. Just knowing and admitting you need help or extra support is a sign of strength and courage, not to mention dedication to your health and wellbeing. Embrace it, this is you taking responsibility for yourself and recognizing when something feels off and in need of change; the kind of change therapy can provide, if you allow it to. A main benefit to therapy is that it is not a one-and-done experience, the things you will learn will stay with you for a life time; giving you new tools to use throughout life experiences, challenges, and struggles that will help you overcome, accept, change and thrive in ways you desire on an ongoing basis.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
There are many different reasons to decide to engage in psychotherapy. The most important answer to this question is that any reason you may have to start therapy is a good one!
Here are just a few examples of some reasons to consider giving it a try:
To learn more about yourself, your feelings and emotions
To learn more about your relationships; your partner’s/friends’/family members’ feelings and emotions
To learn how to be more effective with desired goals in life.
To get support and help while going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job, etc.),
To learn new or more effective skills with handling stressful situations
To gain insights, support and tools to better manage issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, low self-esteem, spiritual issues, trauma, or unresolved issues.
To learn how to meet challenges you may face in life with new perspectives and outlooks
To make desired and/or necessary changes in life
To learn how to accept, cope, handle and prevail in various situations throughout life
You may be asking yourself what the difference is between going to therapy and simply talking to a friend or loved one instead. The difference is having a non-biased, objective and professional person to help you in ways a loved one may not be able to. While loved ones are wonderful and much needed supports that we should lean on whenever we are in need, a trained mental health professional can provide deeper understandings, insights and new perspectives, as well as teach you new skills, tools, and strategies you can utilize. Therapists can help you to identify, recognize and understand your own feelings and emotions in ways non-professionals can’t. Therapy is also confidential, so no one in your personal life has to know about your situation. Additionally, therapy is a personal experience with a unique relationship that exists between you and your therapist designed to help you grow and thrive with no outside interference.
Therapy will be a different experience for everyone because as you are an individual and unique person, so are your feelings, emotions, and circumstances. Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, the methods, approaches and strategies I will use to help you throughout your therapy process will be individually and uniquely tailored to you.
Generally speaking, you can expect to talk about events in your life both current and past, personal history relevant to your issues, and your feelings, emotions, and behaviors related. Throughout your journey we will discuss progress and insights you have made/gained and I will give you helpful feedback along the way; and maybe even some homework assignments to help you practice skills, strategies or tools you learn.
Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult issues or patterns or for your desire for more personal development. In any case, scheduling regular sessions (usually weekly) is the typical practice for the therapy process.
Most importantly, you should know and understand that in order to gain the most benefits from therapy you must actively participate throughout the entire process. This is your journey and only you can determine what and how much you get out of it. Ultimately, therapy is designed to help you grow, change and thrive in the ways you desire; I promise to do my job to the best of my ability, but you must commit to doing the same if you want to see the results you desire. Therefore, beyond your work behind close doors, you will also have to apply all you learn in real life situations to support and enhance your therapeutic transformation.
Psychotherapy is for people who are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are ready to have an open mind for a different view and new perspectives, as well as readiness to take responsibility for themselves and their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
This is a question I have addressed many times throughout my career. Let me start by saying that evidence proves that medication alone cannot cure mental & emotional issues long-term. So, you may have some relief from some of your symptoms for a period of time, but not all or indefinitely. This leads me to my typical answer when I’m asked this question: Medication only solves part of your problem; the physical symptoms. So, what about all of your other symptoms? When you suffer with mental health issues you may experience physical symptoms, but you’re probably also suffering from emotional or behavioral symptoms as well. That is where therapy comes in to compliment medication should you need to be on medication.
If you feel medication may be a solution for your symptoms, you should discuss it with your medical doctor to decide what is right for you. However, if you would like to address, alleviate or even solve the whole problem instead of just a portion of it, you should consider therapy. Therapy addresses the emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms you may be experiencing and will help you to gain insight into underlying issues and causes. Therapy also provides you with tools, skills, and strategies you can implement in life situations as they happen throughout your life; meaning it keeps on working long-term whether or not you need medication as well.
So when you look at the big picture you see “A whole person with a whole problem,” and therefore, would benefit by treating your “whole problem with whole treatment”. That may consist of both medication, if needed and as directed by your medical doctor, and psychotherapy to achieve a complete care plan for all of your needs. In some cases psychotherapy may be all you need. My suggestion would be to think about your situation, discuss with your medical doctor if you feel medication is a possible solution, and consider psychotherapy as well. Take your time and when you’re ready to take that first step, choose a care plan that is right for you.
How long will it take & what can I do to help the process?
There is no one size fits all answer to the length of time therapy will take. Life should be viewed as a journey, not a destination and the transformation one goes through when engaging in the therapy process is much the same. The journey through the therapeutic process is unique to each individual. Everyone has their own issues, problems, and goals. Similarly, everyone moves at different rates throughout their own process. Additionally, everyone has different levels of desire, commitment and dedication they are willing or ready to devote to their process of growth. Keep in mind also that circumstances can change during your therapy process that can either slow down or speed up the journey. New things may arise or old things can resurface that might shift the focus of your process at one time or another. Therefore, the amount of time it will take to address all of your needs or accomplish your goals will depend on you, your desire for personal growth & development, the commitment & dedication you give to the work & the process, as well as the outside factors that may arise throughout the journey.
All of that being said; the best thing you can do to help the process is dedicate yourself to actively participate in all aspects and at every step of the way throughout your journey. This means that you take all that your learn within the sessions and apply them to your life situations. Personal growth and development happens when you are able to apply healthy skills, tools, strategies, behaviors, emotions, and ways of thinking to all areas of life. If this is what you need and/or desire for yourself and your life, consider therapy as an option to help you achieve them.
