What can therapy do for me?
There are a variety of benefits that can come from therapy, which are typically unique to each person. Therapists are there to provide levels of support, introduce evidence-based skills (meaning they have been proven to be effective), and help clients discover ways to shift their thinking or lifestyle. You do not need to have some kind of significant mental health disorder to find usefulness in therapy. In fact, if you are simply looking for personal growth in any aspect of your life, you can typically find the skills and resources through therapy to help with family dynamics, work or career-related challenges and more. Essentially, a therapist offers a different way of looking at things, perhaps a perspective not yet considered, that may reboot your life or at least clarify how to do things differently going forward.
Some common benefits of therapy include:
– Developing a deeper understanding of who you are
– Identifying your goals, aspirations and next steps in life
– Obtaining skills to improve your relationships
– Gaining resources to put an end to the issues that led you to therapy
– Managing problem areas in your personal life, like anger, stress, sadness, etc.
– Creating new patterns of behaviors for yourself
– Boosting your self-esteem, confidence and self-worth
If I feel as though I can handle my issues on my own, is therapy really necessary?
Every person experiences challenges throughout their life. Some people can simply get through them better than others, and even then, it is not a bad idea to have additional support and understanding in place. In reality, therapy is ideal for people who understand themselves enough to realize they could use some help. Noticing that your life is not necessarily where you want it is a big realization and admittance, and taking the steps to change is something to be proud of.
What can I expect from therapy?
Just like the reasons for therapy are different for everyone, most people can expect different experiences. The good news is that therapy is individually-focused, which is why everyone can get something different out of it. Sometimes therapy can be focused on a specific need, in which case it is a ‘short term’ solution. In other cases, many people go to therapy regularly for months or years to engage in self-care and work on personal growth.
Therapy is not meant to be a ‘quick fix’ where you simply sit back and listen; it is a participatory experience. The more you involve yourself in the process, the better results you are likely to experience. It is ideal to be open to the potential of gaining new perspectives on things and making changes in your life.
How should one consider medication vs. therapy?
While medication has been proven to help with many different disorders, it has also been proven that it simply is not enough. Medication often treats the symptoms of a problem, without getting to the root of solving it, which is where therapy comes in. The decision to take psychotropic medication is a highly personal one, and your personal wishes to consider that, if applicable, will be honored. I also encourage clients to consider natural or holistic alternatives to medication, which can include but are not limited to exploring diet, nutrition and exercise options, use of essential oils, yoga and meditation.
Do the topics in each therapy session remain private?
There is nothing more important in therapy than confidentiality. As with any healthcare provider and patient/client agreement, your privacy is of the utmost importance. A good therapist understands the vulnerability and openness that must come from each client, so therapy itself involves trust and that develops over time. Nothing you share in your sessions can be shared with anyone else without your consent, with the rare exceptions of suspected abuse towards a child or elder person, or if the therapist has any reason to believe their client may hurt themself or another person. These situations are a matter of ethical procedures and the law and will be discussed in the initial sessions.