What is therapy?
Therapy, counseling, or psychotherapy is a general term for treating mental health problems by talking with a mental health provider such as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Mental Health Counselor, a psychologist, or another type of mental health provider. Therapy provides a unique, non-judgemental, professional relationship that focuses on addressing your personal concerns in a way that promotes development, learning, insight, and psychological growth.
During therapy, you may learn about things such as your condition, moods, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Therapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging and stressful situations with healthy coping skills. There are many specific types of therapy, each with its own approach. The type of therapy that is right for you depends on your individual situation and needs.
As a therapist, I will not tell you what to do. I will function more as a guide; someone to help you find your own way. I will do this by offering my expertise and suggesting tools and techniques that may help you discover new and healthier options for coping and bettering yourself. I will also help you in moving toward a more insightful awareness of yourself and a more fulfilling future.
The goals of therapy will vary from person to person. Therapy is not
only a process to solve present problems; therapy may also help prevent
future problems from occurring. What you learn in therapy may be
continually applied to new life situations, helping to protect against the
future development of more serious issues and enhancing your ability to cope
when problems do arise. With that in mind, serious problems are not a
requirement for therapy. Even if you are not currently experiencing
serious challenges, you may still want to consider therapy for
self-improvement, developing insight, or acquiring new skills and tools in
order to deal with our ever-changing lives.
Are there any risks associated with therapy?
There is very little risk in having therapy. However, because therapy
sometimes explores painful feelings and experiences, you may feel
emotionally uncomfortable at times. These risks are minimized by
working with a skilled therapist who is able to match the type and intensity
of therapy to your specific needs.
What is telephone and webcam/videoconferencing therapy?
Therapy traditionally occurs by meeting in a therapist's office at a scheduled day and time, typically once weekly or every other week. With telephone therapy or webcam therapy, you have a much greater degree of flexibility as you simply do not have to travel to a therapist's office for your session. For telephone sessions, your therapist will call you at the agreed upon dates/times. Then you simply talk over the phone. Webcam/videoconferencing is again the same, except you would be able to see your therapist via webcam. Both of these options offer you the ability to keep up with your sessions without having to worry about where you may need to be at the time of the session. You also have the benefit of being comfortable in your own home/office and surroundings during the session. Conducting sessions in this way also affords an increased level of privacy for you as no one will see you walking into a therapist's office.
How do I know which type of therapy is best for me?
Telephone/Videoconferencing/Email therapy is a good option for you IF you answer "yes" to one or more of the following statements:
- You are comfortable with and have experience on the internet.
- You use online tools such as email on a regular basis.
- You like to express yourself in writing.
- You prefer to participate in therapy in the familiar surroundings of your own home or office.
- You have young children, other caregiving responsibilities, or disabilities that make it difficult for you to leave your home.
- You live in a rural area where access to licensed professionals is limited.
- You are concerned with privacy and would prefer that no one see you in a therapist’s office.
- You are too busy to go to a therapist’s office.
- You find it difficult to make an appointment for the same time every week.
- Your hearing problem makes it easier for you to communicate in writing.
- Your sight problem makes it less important for you to be physically present with a therapist.
- You travel often for business and/or pleasure.
- You reside outside of Florida for part of the year.
- You reside in multiple locations within Florida throughout the year.
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 creative blocks.
Many people also find that therapists 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
- 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 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.
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 creative blocks. Therapy can help provide
some much needed encouragement and help with 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 therapy 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 or bi-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 may be the right course of
action.
Do you take insurance?
We do not accept
insurance at this time.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
Absolutely! Confidentiality is one of the most
important components between a client and psychotherapist. 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,
Naturopath, Attorney), 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.
