Therapy FAQs

The following text has been provided by Therapy sites.

How can therapy help?

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for concerns related to depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, unresolved childhood trauma, grief, work stress, body image, creative blocks, and difficulties managing important areas of life. Many people also find that therapists 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 concerns 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, starting psychotherapy is the first step in moving to address challenges faced in ones life.

What is therapy like?

Because each person has different concerns 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 concerns, 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, I may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors, or taking action on your goals.

How long does therapy take?

The duration of treatment is different for everyone. Sometimes the most pressing concerns are resolved within months. In other cases, clients make the choice to continue therapy for a year or more in order to explore themselves in a more in depth way. As a general rule, the more contact we have, the greater chance that we will be able meet your treatment goals. I will make recommendations about the frequency of our meetings in the beginning of our work together.

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

Because we are all unique, and we all have different treatment needs, it is important to explore different modalities of treatment. Different types of concerns and different people will respond differently to various treatments. Your choice of treatment should be based on the best available scientific evidence. Whatever the choice, these discussions should be reviewed with your physician, psychiatrist, or therapist, who can talk with you about your specific concerns, symptoms, and diagnosis and educate you about which treatment is likely to have the best outcome for your situation. The particular diagnosis and its severity can be key in making the best choice for yourself.

Can you prescribe medication?

I cannot prescribe medication but I work closely with colleagues who do. Research has shown that often the best therapeutic outcomes happen when psychotherapy and medication management are pursued in conjunction with each other. If you are interested in finding out about medication options, I can make a referral for you or I am happy to collaborate with a psychiatrist or M.D. of your choosing.  

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 (you’re 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 themself/himself/herself or has threatened to harm another person.