How can therapy help me?
A number of
benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide
support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues
such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood
issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks.
Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing
personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage
issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh
perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a
solution. 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, 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 or marriage
- Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you
may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced,
there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In
fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they
need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking
responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment
to change the situation by seeking therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting
benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers,
re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you
face.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may
be going through a major life transition (unemployment, divorce, new job,
etc.), or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need
assistance managing a range of other issues such as low self-esteem,
depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship problems, spiritual conflicts
and creative blocks. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement
and help with skills to get them through these periods. Others may be at a
point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more
effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy
are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in
their lives.
What to expect:
Because each person
has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different
depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the
current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to
your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the
previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be
short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more
difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way,
it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually
weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get
more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The
ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session
back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions,
your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to
support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on
specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals.
People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their
lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What about medication vs. psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to
mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved
solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy
addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our
progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of
well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your
medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a
combination of medication and therapy is the right course of
action.
Do you take insurance, and how does that work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through
your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check
your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some
helpful questions you can ask them:
- What are my mental health benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components
between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high
degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not
discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should
provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you
can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.
This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may
want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on
your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your
therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written
permission.
However, state law and professional ethics
require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following
situations:
* Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of
children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection
and law enforcement, based on information provided by the client or
collateral sources.
* If the therapist has reason to suspect the client
is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threated to harm
another person.