How can therapy help me?
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 transitions.
Many people also find that therapists can be a tremendous asset to managing
personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage
issues, and the stresses 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
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- 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
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 need a helping hand, and that is a sign of
strength and is not weakness. 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 grief and loss. Therapy can help provide some
much needed support and help with coping 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 with 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, you can expect to discuss the
current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to
your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the
previous therapy session. 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 personal development.
Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your
therapist (usually weekly).
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 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. People seeking therapy are ready to make positive
changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take 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 cause 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 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?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
- Are LMFTs (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists) on the list of approved providers?
- 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 therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of
trust with 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 update to someone on your
healthcare team (your Physician, School Officials, Other Helping
Professionals), but by law your therapist cannot release this information
without obtaining your written permission.
However, 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.