What is Therapy
Therapy (or more formally known as Psychotherapy) is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the therapist and patient (client), and the particular problems you are experiencing. There are many different methods our therapists may use to deal with the problems that you hope to address. Therapy calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home.
Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience temporary uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. But there are no guarantees of what you will experience.
Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, your therapist will be able to offer you some first impressions of what the work will include and a treatment plan to follow. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable working with your therapist. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about our procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, we will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional for a second opinion.
Therapy Sessions
Your therapist normally conducts an assessment that will last from 3 to 4 sessions. During this time, we can both decide if your therapist is the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your treatment goals. If psychotherapy is begun, your therapist will usually schedule one 50-minute session every 1 - 2 weeks at a time we agree on, although some sessions may be longer or more frequent.
“Connection is why we’re here. It is what gives us purpose and meaning to our lives.”
Brene Brown
