Counseling and Therapy Questions

Is therapy right for me?

While therapy may not be for everyone, there are many reasons why some people do come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing psychological issues, or problems with anxiety or depression. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce or work transition. Many people go to therapy to pursue their own personal exploration and growth. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Therapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Therapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change.

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.

How can therapy help me?

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. This list is provided to give a general overview of some of the benefits therapy can offer. It may help you to organize your goals and thinking about pursuing therapy at this time.

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
Learning how we may be affecting our progress in the work place
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

Is medication a substitute for therapy?

In some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action. Working with a medical doctor you can determine what type of medication might be best for you. 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. If we agree that medication might be an option I would take the steps to refer you to a qualified physician for adjunctive medication therapy.

Is therapy confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between a client and psychotherapist. No information is disclosed without prior written permission from the client. However, there are some exceptions required by law to this rule. Exceptions include:

If there is suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse the therapist is required to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person the therapist is required to notify the authorities.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself the therapist will make every effort to work with the individual to ensure their safety. However, if it seems the client is in danger additional measures may need to be taken to insure safety.