IS THERAPY RIGHT FOR ME?
SEEKING OUT THERAPY IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE. THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY PEOPLE COME TO THERAPY. SOMETIMES IT IS TO DEAL WITH LONG-STANDING RELATIONAL ISSUES, PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES, OR PROBLEMS WITH ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION. OTHER TIMES IT IS IN RESPONSE TO UNEXPECTED CHANGES IN ONE'S LIFE SUCH AS A DIVORCE OR WORK TRANSITION. OTHER LIFE TRANSITIONS CAN BRING ONE TO THERAPY; SUCH AS, MAKING A COMMITMENT, FAMILY ISSUES, OR PARENTING, MANY SEEK COUNSELING AS THEY PURSUE THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPLORATION AND GROWTH. WORKING WITH A THERAPIST CAN HELP PROVIDE INSIGHT, SUPPORT, AND NEW STRATEGIES FOR ALL TYPES OF LIFE CHALLENGES. THERAPY CAN HELP ADDRESS MANY TYPES OF ISSUES INCLUDING DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, CONFLICT, GRIEF, STRESS MANAGEMENT, BODY-IMAGE ISSUES, AND GENERAL LIFE TRANSITIONS. THERAPY IS RIGHT FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THEIR LIFE BY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, CREATING GREATER SELF-AWARENESS, AND WORKING TOWARDS CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME?
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. SO, NO-- THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU :) WE ALL NEED TO VENT!
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO GAIN FROM THERAPY?
A NUMBER OF BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FROM PARTICIPATING IN PSYCHOTHERAPY. THERAPISTS CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT, PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, AND ENHANCED COPING STRATEGIES FOR ISSUES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, RELATIONSHIP TROUBLES, FAMILY STRESSES, 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
- UNDERSTANDING WHAT BROUGHT A COUPLE TOGETHER AND HOW TO RECONNECT
- 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
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CONFIDENTIALITY?
THE LAW PROTECTS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR THERAPIST AND YOURSELF. INFORMATION CANNOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION, UNLESS:
- SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR DEPENDENT ADULT OR ELDER ABUSE, FOR WHICH I AM REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPORT TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES IMMEDIATELY.
- IF A CLIENT IS THREATENING TO HARM THEMSELVES OR ANOTHER, I MUST INFORM THE POLICE AND THE INTENDED VICTIM.
- IF A CLIENT INTENDS TO HARM THEMSELVES, I WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENLIST THEIR COOPERATION IN ENSURING THEIR SAFETY. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, I WILL TAKE FURTHER MEASURES WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION THAT ARE PROVIDED TO ME BY LAW IN ORDER TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY.
IF YOU ARE A COUPLES AND FAMILY THERAPIST, DO YOU SEE INDIVIDUALS?
YES!!! I ABSOLUTELY SEE INDIVIDUALS. BEING TRAINED IN FAMILY THERAPY ONLY MEANS I WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, EXPERIENCES, AND FAMILY SYSTEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, CONTEMPLATING DIVORCE OR CONFLICT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER IS A STRESSFUL AND SAD TIME...THIS SADNESS AND WORRY IS MOST LIKELY LABELED AS BEING "DEPRESSED" AND "ANXIOUS" BY MOST CLINICIANS, BUT MFTS VIEW THESE CONCEPTS AS OCCURRING IN CLIENTS' EXPERIENCES, NOT WITHIN THEMSELVES.
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