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 life change transition.
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:
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:
- gain increased understanding of healthy individual and relationship emotional health and behaviors as a 'road map' for your own growth
- attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
- developing specific skills for improving your relationships
- finding resolution to the ongoing issues or painful concerns that have frustrated you for years
- learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- improving communication and listening skills
- changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
- discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage or workplace
- improving your self-esteem, boosting self-confidence, and improving decision-making skills
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 can benefit from 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 chronic health problems. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with specific 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 in achieving 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, however, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, identify your strengths and supports for making changes, and report progress or any new insights gained from the previous therapy session
You and the therapist will identify specific goals for the types of learning and growth that you are seeking. Sometimes, the therapist and you will design informal 'home work exercises' so that you can further reflect and practice what you are doing during recent sessions out there in the 'real world' of your daily life and relationships. Finally, you and the therapist will periodically discuss with each other about how 'the therapy process is working for you' in relation to your goals which have been identified and together make revisions accordingly.
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 ongoing, long-term personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly or every two weeks).
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 sessions back into your life and to integrate it smoothly into your daily life and relationships. People seeking psychotherapy do so because they are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives, and want to take more insightful 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 causes 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, holistic 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? copa deductable threshold ?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- Is there a limit to how many therapy sessions my plan covers?
- Is my specific therapist's services covered by my insurance ? (i.e. in-network? out-of-network ?)
- How much does my insurance pay for services from 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 about 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 up date to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law, your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission on a special 'release of information' form.
In addition, 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.