How can therapy help me?
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapy can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. Therapy can normalize your experience, provide support and
validation, improve problem-solving skills, offer solution oriented outcomes, increase feelings of empowerment and self-confidence in managing life stressors. As a therapist, I can assist you in identifying family patterns that
strain family relationships and how to improve communication and listening skills. I can provide insight into why you might be stuck on a particular issue and help you narrow down and implement strategies that will work more
effectively for you as a parent or couple. I can assist your family through the process of transition and change by learning adaptive skills. I can provide therapeutic modalities for your child or teen to express themselves and
develop strategies to better cope with difficult life circumstances and developmental periods. T he benefits your family or yourself obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.
Is it common to seek therapy as a means to address an issue?
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. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you
need to better manage and overcome whatever challenges you face
What can I expect from my initial session?
The initial session in therapy is an opportunity for the therapist to learn more about your family or you. You come to therapy as an individual, couple or parent with varied life experiences, strengths, areas needing improvement
and concerns that are unique to you. A thorough initial assessment seeks to gain background information that will assist in determining the best treatment approach to meet your needs. Typical information discussed at an initial
session might include; the main issue or symptoms, the reason for seeking therapy, past treatment or attempts to address the issue, your overall physical, emotional and mental health functioning and your goals for therapy. A
developmental history will be obtained if therapy is related to the needs of a child or teen. A consent to treatment and acknowledgement of confidentiality will be reviewed and signed as part of your agreement to have me provide
therapy. The session will typically end with scheduling and discussion of frequency of sessions recommended for treatment.
What is my role in therapy?
Your input into therapy is crucial throughout the duration of the therapy process. A therapist can only assist you based on the information that is provided to them. Therapy is more likely to have a successful outcome when you are
fully open to sharing your needs and your goals for treatment. It is equally important to communicate changes in symptoms or development of new concerns as they arise. The therapist and yourself are partners in treatment. Therapy
will be most beneficial when you discuss with your therapist your progress with treatment as well as treatment interventions that are not working, so together you can modify your treatment plan.
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. Regularly attending and engaging in sessions and following through on treatment
recommendations, will increase the likelihood that any gains or change will continue long-term.
Exceptions include:
Is what I discuss in therapy confidential between my therapist and myself?
The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission. Exceptions include:
- Suspected child or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person(s), I must notify police and inform the intended victim.
How do I decide if therapy is the right choice for me?
If you are still not sure about your decision to initiate therapy, I would be glad to consult with you further by phone. By giving you an opportunity to provide a brief summary of your problem or concern and learning more about
my treatment approach, you can determine if this would be a good fit.