What is counseling or therapy?
Counseling provides exploration of effective ways to deal with common everyday situations, as well as, entrenched life patterns. Research supports the fact that therapy works. Therapy is for clients who want to improve their personal, school, career, and/or family lives. This may include relationship problems, addictions, parenting issues, stress management, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and decision-making.
Because everyone is unique with different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different for each person. However, 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. Therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term to deal with more complicated patterns and behaviors. It is best schedule regular sessions with your therapist
If you actively participate in the process you will get more results from therapy. The goal of therapy is for you to bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, 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 on some level ready to make changes in their lives, are open to fresh viewpoints, and are willing to take responsibility for their lives and their actions.
What are the benefits of therapy?
There are a number of possible benefits from taking part in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety and stress, relationship problems, unresolved issues, grief, life transitions, and even the frustrations of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh outlook on personal issues or point you in a new direction for 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:
Everyone goes through tough situations in life and there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. Therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be commended. You are seeking to take responsibility for where you are in life and making a decision to look at ways you may need to change by seeking therapy. Therapy can provide long-lasting benefits and support; it can give you some of the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and manage the challenges in your life.
What about medication vs. therapy?
The long-term solution to mental and emotional problems is rarely solved by medication alone. Instead of simply treating the symptom, therapy seeks to address the cause of an individual’s issues and negative behavior patterns. In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the most successful treatment; collaboration with a client’s medical professionals can determine the best course of action.
Are therapy sessions confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most essential components between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust regarding sensitive subject matter that is often not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of his or her 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, 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 threatened to harm another person.
Counseling provides exploration of effective ways to deal with common everyday situations, as well as, entrenched life patterns. Research supports the fact that therapy works. Therapy is for clients who want to improve their personal, school, career, and/or family lives. This may include relationship problems, addictions, parenting issues, stress management, depression, anxiety, life transitions, and decision-making.
Because everyone is unique with different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different for each person. However, 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. Therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term to deal with more complicated patterns and behaviors. It is best schedule regular sessions with your therapist
If you actively participate in the process you will get more results from therapy. The goal of therapy is for you to bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, 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 on some level ready to make changes in their lives, are open to fresh viewpoints, and are willing to take responsibility for their lives and their actions.
What are the benefits of therapy?
There are a number of possible benefits from taking part in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety and stress, relationship problems, unresolved issues, grief, life transitions, and even the frustrations of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh outlook on personal issues or point you in a new direction for 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:
- Gaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your values
- Developing skills for improving your relationships
- Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
- Learning healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety
- Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Improving communications and listening skills
- Replacing old behavior patterns with new ones
- Learning new problem-solving skills
- Discovering a belief in yourself and boosting self-confidence
Everyone goes through tough situations in life and there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. Therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be commended. You are seeking to take responsibility for where you are in life and making a decision to look at ways you may need to change by seeking therapy. Therapy can provide long-lasting benefits and support; it can give you some of the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and manage the challenges in your life.
What about medication vs. therapy?
The long-term solution to mental and emotional problems is rarely solved by medication alone. Instead of simply treating the symptom, therapy seeks to address the cause of an individual’s issues and negative behavior patterns. In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the most successful treatment; collaboration with a client’s medical professionals can determine the best course of action.
Are therapy sessions confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most essential components between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust regarding sensitive subject matter that is often not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of his or her 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, 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 threatened to harm another person.