How will therapy be beneficial for me?
The primary job of a therapist is to provide you with support, teach you new communication skills, provide resources and help you discover new coping mechanisms for dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, or even creative blocks.
While therapy is very beneficial when you are dealing with a crisis, it can also be useful even with no crisis to work through. In fact, therapy can be very helpful when you are looking to grow personally in any aspect of your life.
Essentially, a therapist offers a different point of view to your life. By viewing a problem in a new light, your therapist can guide you in the right direction and find the solutions to your problems. Therapy is most effective when you are actively participating in the process and collaborating with your therapist to implement the skills you learn into your everyday life.
Still on the fence about if therapy is the right avenue for you?
Examples of the common benefits of therapy are the following:
- Identifying your goals and dreams and developing the skills to achieve them
- Learning how to improve your relationships
- Learning new coping skills
- Improving co-parenting skills.
- Developing time-management and organizational skills.
- Managing difficult areas in your personal life, such as anxiety, anger, stress, depression, etc.
- Creating new patterns of behavior for yourself
- Changing your problem-solving perspective
- Increasing your self-esteem
Is therapy really necessary if I’m handling things on my own?
There will always be challenges in life. Some people are able to cope with them more than others, but it’s always helpful to have additional support on your side. Therapy is ideal for those who understand that they need additional help – asking for help or admitting you need help is normally the hardest part. It’s okay to admit that your life is not what you imagined it would be or where you want it to be. You can be assured that you are taking the right steps to make a change. It can lead down an amazing path of self-realization and the benefits will last a lifetime.
What makes people attend therapy in the first place? How do I know if it is the right decision for me?
Everyone has different reason for seeking help – you could be going through a major life change, a specific event like divorce, or you need help handling a stressful situation. Integrating therapy into your self care routine can assist with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and even low self-esteem – which are all common reasons to seek help. Therapy is a deeply personal decision but if you evaluate your life and are wanting to make a change, some form of therapy would be very helpful.
What can I expect from therapy?
Everyone’s experience with therapy is different. The best therapist individualizes the program to his or her client, which is why everyone benefits in a different way. Your life and experiences will provide insights to your discussions with your therapist. Therapy can also be focused on a specific need, in which case it’s a short-term solution. Some can seek therapy weekly to aid in their personal growth.
Therapy is most effective when you are actively participating in the process and collaborating with your therapist to implement the skills you learned. The more you participate, the more benefits you will see in your life. Therapy isn’t just about what happens in your session, it is about applying the skills and lessons you learn in your everyday life.
How should one consider medication vs. psychotherapy?
Medication can definitely help with many conditions, but it’s simply not enough. Medication can treat the symptoms, but it doesn’t address the root factors that lead to the problem. This is why therapy is very effective and essential during your healing process. The decision to take medications or not is a highly personal one, and if you decide you want to look into medication, you will need to consult a psychiatrist.
Do the topics in each therapy session remain private?
The most important aspect in therapy is confidentiality – your privacy is the utmost importance. Clients need to be vulnerable and willing to discuss private issues in sessions in order to reap the benefits from therapy. Absolute trust between the client and therapist is vital to the relationship and it develops over time. Before your session be sure you have signed a Confidentiality Agreement, also known as “Informed Consent.”
A therapist can only share important details with other healthcare providers with your written consent. There are exceptions to confidentiality such as suspected abuse or if your therapist has reason to believe that you will hurt yourself or others. These rare exceptions are ethical and/or legal requirements.
To learn more, visit our About page. Contact Janessa today to schedule your first session!
