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 is therapy like?
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 (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 him/herself or has threated to harm
another person.