FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THERAPY
Why do people seek therapy?
People come into therapy for many reasons. Some need to respond to unexpected changes in their lives, while others seek self-exploration and personal growth. When coping skills are overwhelmed by guilt, doubt, anxiety, or despair, therapy can help. Therapy can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced copingfor issues such as depression, anxiety, lack of confidence, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, bereavement, spiritual conflicts, stress management, body image issues, and creative blocks. People seeking psychotherapy are willing to take responsibility for their actions, work towards self-change and create greater awareness in their lives
What can I expect in a counseling session?
During sessions you are expected to talk about the primary concerns and issues in your life. A session lasts 50 minutes, but some people request longer sessions. Usually weekly sessions are best. Some people who are in crisis or extreme distress need more than one session per week, at least until the crisis passes. During the time between sessions it is beneficial to think about and process what was discussed. At times, you may be asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records. For therapy to "work," you must be an active participant, both in and outside of the therapy sessions.
What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist? A number of benefits are available from participating in psychotherapy. Often it is helpful just to know that someone understands. Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. Many people find therapy to be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, and the hassles of daily life. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
- Attaining a better understanding of yourself and your personal goals and values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Find new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications skills - learn how to listen to others, and have others listen to you
- Getting "unstuck" from unhealthy patterns - breaking old behaviors and develop new ones
- Discovering new ways to solve problems
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
- Increased self-awareness: Gaining a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to make informed decisions.
What Are Your Therapy Approaches?
All therapy clients bring different challenges, situations, strengths, identities, personalities, and preferences to their first sessions. There is vast diversity when it comes to why people begin therapy, which is met by an expansive range of therapy treatment approaches. Some of the approaches I commonly use include:
Christian Faith-Based Counseling
Christian Counseling brings together mental health therapy with Christian ideology and culture. Therapists who specialize in Christian counseling may use faith concepts to support their clients and empower them to make sense of their emotions.
Client-Centered Therapy
In client-centered therapy, also known as person-centered therapy, the client takes a leadership role in the process of self-discovery. Self-acceptance and healing are promoted by the therapeutic relationship based on unconditional positive regard and the shared goal of understanding the client’s unique experiences, goals, and solutions.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a skill-based treatment that focuses on the interconnection of one’s thoughts, behaviors, and emotional experiences. The therapist teaches techniques to examine and reduce unhelpful thoughts and implement new ways behaving outside of the sessions that result in desired emotional and behavioral outcomes.
Couple’s Counseling
Couples counseling is a form of therapy in which a therapist works with couple’s on whatever issues or concerns are relevant in their relationships.
Family Therapy
Family Therapy describes a wide range of therapy modalities that help families become closer together. The therapist will work with the whole family unit – and often with individual members on healthy communication skills, boundary-setting, and bonding activities.
Marriage Counseling
Therapy for couples in committed relationships, designed to help partners address relationship challenges, navigate difficult conversations, and identify useful communication and problem-solving techniques.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-informed therapy integrates present moment awareness as a tool that allows people to disengage from mental preoccupations and difficult emotions. The therapist teaches the practice of present moment awareness through non-judgmental observation of the mind and body.
Premarital Counseling
Premarital counseling helps partners in a relationship understand each others’ values, traditions, and goals going into a marriage.
Relational Therapy
Relational therapy (or relational-cultural therapy) helps clients recognize the role of relationships in their well-being. Clients identify and explore how they interact with others, with the goal being to develop new ideas about relationships.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy is a guided conversational approach that helps individuals to understand and achieve their solutions to reduce suffering. The therapist and client work collaboratively to break down next steps towards the client’s goals using the skills and strengths the client already possesses.
Strengths-Based Therapy
Through strength-based therapy, the positive aspects of a person’s character are highlighted rather than one’s problems or weaknesses. The therapist helps the client to build and maintain resilience through exploration of pre-existing strengths and inner resources.
Supportive Therapy
Supportive psychotherapy reinforces a patient’s ability to cope with life stressors and challenges. The therapist provides the client the opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts as well as consider their own hopes, goals, and next steps towards healing and wellbeing.
Teletherapy
Teletherapy offers treatment provided by a licensed and certified therapist through a secure HIPAA compliant audio-video connection. Clients can interact with their therapist the same way they do during in person sessions just from a distance.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma-informed is an approach that integrates informed care principles, recognizing the widespread impact of trauma on individuals’ mental health and well-being. It emphasizes creating a safe environment for individuals to explore their past experiences and work through the effects of trauma, incorporating key elements such as emotional safety and mindfulness techniques.
Is therapy confidential?
In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a psychotherapist. Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse or dependent 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/s. The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
- If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety