People enter psychotherapy for a lot of reasons. Some are in the midst of a significant life-change, some find that therapy helps with managing daily life, some are addressing a known mental health issue, and some are suggested into therapy by someone significant in their lives. This primer is to help you understand what you’re getting into when you sign up for psychotherapy.
Therapy sessions are about you – what you choose to share and what you want to change. In your initial session(s), we will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy and how we might address them. Over time, we’ll identify obstructions in your life, and therapy meetings will be a part of your support system as you address them.
Seeing a psychotherapist is not like going to the doctor. Therapy calls for an active effort on your part. I’ve found that therapy is most successful when a person thinks about discussions from therapy sessions in their day-to-day life. For a person to benefit from therapy, they must be willing to take responsibility for their actions and work toward change.
Therapy offers several benefits. Sometimes, we have an internal monologue we are uncomfortable sharing with anyone in our life and we require a professional space to process repetitive thoughts or concerns. Sometimes we’re faced with a complex problem and we employ therapy to help tease it apart. In therapy, you will likely discuss your important relationships, concerns, and yearnings. And over time, people in therapy develop a deeper understanding of themselves, a heightened awareness of others’ interior worlds, learn to better regulate emotions, and gain a sense of acceptance and control over their lives.
Therapy can be uncomfortable at times. In session, you may recall disturbing memories, and problems may temporarily worsen. These feelings are to be expected when a person is undertaking difficult changes in their life. For my part, I do not take on clients I do not think I can help, and I strive to ensure that clients have a positive and safe experience of therapy.
