How does therapy work?
I’m asked this question all the time.
While everyone I see is different and has their own unique story, I can tell you what components are key to a successful therapeutic experience.
Number 1:
You need to select a trained, competent therapist.
It’s important that your therapist has the right credentials. It’s important that your therapist has the proper schooling, training, and experience. It’s important to be sure that your therapist is licensed to practice in the state of Tennessee. This helps ensure that he or she meets the academic and ethical standards required to practice as well as has the proper experience.
Number 2:
You need to be ready to do the work in your therapy sessions.
Therapy is a commitment. It is a commitment of time not just in the therapist’s office. A good therapist is probably going to give you “homework” to do or practice between sessions.
Therapy is not always easy. It requires being completely honest about yourself and being open to what the therapist is telling you. You may find yourself talking about things that are not always pleasant or even painful – but sometimes you have to go through the bad stuff before you can get to the good stuff.
Number 3:
You and your therapist need to get along.
This is called the therapeutic relationship. If you think your therapist is a jerk, you might want to find another therapist. With that being said, sometimes a good therapist may tell you things that you don’t want to hear. It doesn’t mean they don’t respect you or care about you. In fact, it’s just the opposite – they respect you enough to be that honest.
Therapy is all about you.
Therapy is where you get to share your thoughts, feelings, worries, desires, and emotions in a safe place where you do not have to fear being ridiculed or judged.
What happens in a session, stays in session. Therapy is all about you and nobody else.
How long should I be in therapy?
There is no specific answer. I see my job as to get you out of therapy as soon as you are ready. We won’t rush the process. You set the pace.
I do know that what determines how quickly we begin to see the progress depends on how well we get along (the therapeutic relationship) and how hard we are willing to work together.
I can promise you that when we begin this journey together. I will always give you my best, 110%.
What Is the Psychotherapy Process?
I see my approach to psychotherapy as eclectic. Every client I see is different, and they all have their own story and own unique set of circumstances and problems. For that reason, I don’t try to make all of my therapy clients fit into the same theory or school of thought. I use processes and models that I see as working uniquely for them.
I also operate from a wellness perspective.
I don’t see my clients as sick or broken. The fact is, we all have “stuff” that gets in our way from time to time. Maybe it’s a bad relationship, maybe it’s a trauma you’ve experienced. Sometimes you may not even be sure what “it” is, you just know that you’re not happy and that your life has become unmanageable.
We all have perfectly natural feelings, thoughts, and emotions that sometimes just get out of whack and start to get in our way. I see my job as helping people deal with these issues and putting them back into that healthy range so that they can lead the lives that they want and deserve.
