What can therapy do for me?

There are a variety of benefits that can come from therapy, and they tend to be individualized. Therapists are there to provide levels of support, teach certain skills, offer new perspectives and help clients discover new coping strategies for things like anxiety, depression, stress, and communication. You don’t need to have some kind of ‘major disorder’ to find usefulness from a therapist. In fact, if you’re looking for personal growth in any aspect of your life, you can typically find the skills and resources through therapy to help with reducing stress related to family, work, relationships, and more. Essentially, a therapist offers a different way of looking at things – perhaps a perspective you haven’t yet considered, or maybe one you’ve heard many times before but haven’t been able to implement on your own, which makes it easier to point you in the right direction, and find the solutions you’re looking for in life.

Of course, therapists can’t just ‘fix’ everything. It’s about using the resources you learn and applying them in your everyday life to really turn things around. Still unsure about what therapy could do for you? Let’s take a look at few examples of some common benefits:

• Grasping a deeper understanding of who you are
• Identifying your wants, goals and dreams
• Improving communication skills for bettering your life’s relationships
• Learning options for putting an end to the issues that brought you to therapy
• Managing your reactions in ways that are received more effectively by others
• Creating new patterns of behavior for yourself
• Changing your problem-solving perspective
• Boosting your self-esteem and confidence

If I feel as though I can handle my issues on my own, is therapy really necessary?

You’re right, up to today you have been able to make it through everything that you’ve been faced with. That doesn’t mean it was easy, and it doesn’t mean you’re exempt from the emotions and challenges that this comes with. It’s never a bad idea to have additional support and understanding when it comes to the obstacles you’ve gone through or those that will arise. In all actuality, therapy is ideal for people who understand themselves enough to realize they actually could use some help, instead of denying it. Noticing that your life isn’t necessarily where you want it to be is a big realization and admittance, and it does mean that you aren’t capable or successful. Acknowledging opportunities for improvement is something to be incredibly proud of. You’re taking the first step down an incredible path that can lead to long-lasting benefits for the rest of your life, even when challenges come up again.

What makes people go to therapy in the first place? How do I know if it’s the right decision?

Everyone’s reasons for coming to therapy are different. Some people are seeking support related to a specific event like a move, job change, illness, or relationship conflict. Others may not be dealing with stressful situations ideally. Sometimes, the assistance of therapy can not only help with specific situations, but long-standing challenges as well. Depression, anxiety, irritability, relationship issues, and even low-self esteem are often common reasons to seek out help. You may start out looking for one thing, and find on your journey that you can gain so much more through learning the right skills, and having the right kind of encouragement.

In terms of making the ‘right decision’ for yourself, of course therapy is a personal decision, but if you take a look at your life, and your desire is to make a change that starts from within, it’s likely that some form of psychotherapy could be a great benefit.

What can I expect from therapy?

Just like the reasons for therapy are different for everyone, most people can expect different experiences. The good news is that therapy is completely individually-focused, which is why everyone can get something different out of it. Your life, your history, and any relevant insights will be important to the specific discussions. We will work to identify factors which have contributed to who shaping who you are and consider ways you can continue to grow. Sometimes therapy can be focused on a specific need, in which case it’s a ‘short term’ solution, while in other cases, many people go to therapy regularly to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they wish to be.

Again, therapy isn’t meant to be some kind of ‘quick fix’ where you simply sit back and listen. It is a participatory experience. The more you involve yourself in the process, the more you utilize the skills we discuss, the better results you’re bound to see. It’s a practice in everyday living, in which you take what you learn from the session, and apply it to your life. Therefore, it’s important to be mentally prepared to make those changes in your life.

How should one consider medication vs. psychotherapy?

While medication has been proven to help with many different mental health symptoms, it has also been proven that time and time again, it simply isn’t enough. Medication often treats the symptoms of a problem, without getting to the root of solving it, which is where therapy comes in. The decision to take psychotropic medications or not, is a highly personal one, and your personal wishes will be honored. If in the course of treatment, you decided you might benefit from medications, I will work to help refer you out to an appropriate provider.

People are turning more and more to holistic and natural alternatives to modern medicine to treat mental, physical and spiritual issues. I fully support alternative options as such essential oils, chiropractic and massage care, yoga, diet/exercise and nutrition options, and other means you might explore to improve your well being.

How does insurance factor into therapy?

Insurance companies are different – some offer mental health coverage, while others do not. The easiest way to find out if mental health care is covered by your provider is to contact them, to make sure you understand their options. If you’re looking for a good place to start in asking them questions, you could consider asking what their coverage amounts are for therapy sessions, what an out-of-network provider might cost, or if prior approval will be needed from your primary care physician. Don’t be afraid to ask enough questions so you feel confident in knowing how your insurance responds to mental health care.

Do the topics in each therapy session remain private?

There is practically nothing more important in therapy than confidentiality. As with any doctor/patient agreement, your privacy is of the utmost importance. A good therapist understands the vulnerability and openness that must come from each patient in order to really get through, so therapy itself can take a lot of trust, and that needs to be developed over time. Make sure your therapist offers a confidentiality agreement before you begin your sessions, typically called ‘informed consent.’ It is your choice if you’d like to have your therapist share anything significant with your healthcare providers or others, but this can only be done with your written consent. Nothing you share in your sessions is to be told to anyone else, with the rare exceptions of suspected abuse of any kind, or if the therapist has any reason to believe their patient may hurt themselves, or others. These situations are a matter of ethical procedures, and the law. If you have any questions about confidentiality be sure to ask your therapist for more details at any time.