How do I know if therapy can be helpful for me?

Therapy can be very beneficial in improving relationships, providing support and insight, and increasing problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. Through therapy, you'll work on developing coping strategies for whatever issues and obstacles you are facing.

Therapists can provide new perspectives, reflect unproductive patterns or beliefs, and suggest and practice with you new ways of approaching life. The benefits you obtain from therapy will likely depend on your commitment, effort, and actions taken to make positive changes.

Some potential benefits of therapy:

A better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Developing skills for improving your relationships and feeling more connected to your partner
Finding a resolution or new way to cope with the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope to manage stress, anxiety, anger, grief, or depression
Improving communication and listening skills
Identifying old behavior patterns and developing new and healthier paths
Improving your self-esteem and feeling stronger and more confident both as an individual and within
your relationships

It is up to you to determine if trying therapy would be a helpful avenue to explore, as well as once you engage in therapy to decide if it is beneficial. If the process is not feeling helpful or your needs are not being addressed, discuss your concerns with your therapist and know that you have the freedom stop therapy at any point.

Do I really need therapy; why do people go?

It takes courage to ask for help and people arrive at therapy for any number of personal reasons from, managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marital or couple issues, major life transitions (unemployment, divorce, new job, new baby etc.), or feeling overwhelmed by stressful circumstances. 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, offer perspective, insight and skill-building to assist in navigating these storms. Some people are working to learn more about themselves or how to be more effective with their personal goals or relationships. In short, while their motivating reasons may vary, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to explore challenges in their lives and be supported in striving for positive change.

What will therapy be like?

Each person or couple has unique challenges and goals for therapy, and as a result the process will look different for each individual and couple. The initial session will be spent obtaining history and relevant information regarding your presenting concern(s). Future sessions may include discussing current happenings in your life, exploring your past history connected to a current issue, or sharing and celebrating any progress, change or new insights gained in between sessions.

Mind-full counseling will collaborate with you during the first couple of sessions to create your personalized treatment plan. We will review your progress periodically to track constructive changes and identify areas for further discussion and growth.

How long will I need therapy?

Length of therapy can vary depending on the individual or couple. Positive change can take place in a short period of time, especially if therapy is used to focus on a specific issue or goal. Sometimes longer-term therapy may be helpful if the nature of the issues you are having require more time and support. We will review your progress and treatment goals every few months depending on how often you come to therapy.

Will I get better if I go to therapy?

The hope in engaging in therapy is that, with time, hard work and consciously changing thoughts, behaviors and relationship patterns, things will improve. Although there are many benefits of therapy, such as gaining personal support, creating long-lasting tools to avoid emotional triggers and re-directing unproductive patterns, talking about past and present experiences can produce a wide range of feelings. Confronting and exploring these feelings can sometimes lead to feeling worse before ultimately feeling better. Therapy is an effective tool in making life changes, and mind-full counseling will support you on that journey.

What about medication vs. therapy?

Medication can sometimes be an additional beneficial short- or long-term tool in managing mental health concerns for some individuals. Research shows that sometimes a combination of both therapy and medication can lead to stronger outcomes then use of just medication or therapy alone. Therapy works to address emotions, behaviors and patterns that are contributing to issues vs. only targeting the symptoms being experienced.

Mind-full counseling is supportive of your needs and supports an integrative wellness approach; I am happy to coordinate treatment with your physician or psychiatrist if medication is indicated . 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.

I am a private person. Does what we talk about remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important qualities in a client/psychotherapist relationship. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team to coordinate care (your physician, naturopath, attorney). By law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:

Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/persons, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.

DISCLAIMER - The material contained on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute care, treatment or other professional advice. Due to the general nature of the information on this site, should you require specific help, you should seek the assistance of an appropriately trained professional.