I’ve never talked to anyone. I’m used to handling things on my own. Aren’t people who go to therapy weak?
Not at all. People who ask for help know when they need it and have the ability to reach out. Everyone needs help now and then.You already have some strengths that you’ve used before, and for whatever reason, they aren’t working right now. Perhaps this problem feels overwhelming and is making it difficult to access your past strengths. In our work together, I’ll help you identify what those strengths are and how to implement them again in what is happening now.
Why shouldn’t I just take medication?
If medication is needed, it would be prescribed by your health care professional. Often, that professional will recommend that a patient seek counseling, as they know that the medications alone are not enough help. Medications can help with the symptoms that brought a person to the health care provider or the counselor, and provide relief from the symptoms while the issues causing the symptoms are dealt with. They can provide distance and space. With some issues, medication may be part of the long term solution. There is no weakness in using medication for mental health conditions, and one need not feel shameful for needing that kind of assistance.
How does it work? What do I have to do in sessions?
Since each person is unique, each one’s course of therapy is unique. After determining the issues, and assessing, I work with you to map out a course of treatment, explaining the therapy involved. Among the topics we cover early in therapy are what your goals are, and how specific therapy can help you achieve those goals.
How long will it take?
Unfortunately, this is not possible to say in a general FAQs page. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time therapy can take to allow you to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek therapy in the first place.
I want to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?
What a great question! Clients who are consistent and honest with themselves get the most out of therapy. After all, it is about you, and your care, and your purposes and aims. An open mind, and lots of curiosity about yourself will help as well.
My partner and I are having problems. Should we be in individual counseling or come together?
If you are concerned about your relationship, and you would both like to work with me, we could do that. After this work, if one of you would like to continue in individual sessions, I could work with only one of you.