What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a process where we explore thoughts and emotions to seek resolution through conversation. Strong emotions can leave you feeling lost and confused causing you to feel overwhelmed and isolated.
Short-term therapy can be a few months of weekly sessions.
Long term work can last several years. It’s a process and sometimes when people begin to face a present issue they find more to work on as they explore different aspects of their lives.
Each person's journey and process is different. How long and how many sessions you need will depend on your presenting problem and how much effort you put into the process. Some people need just a few sessions to help get them on track.
People that are adjusting to life transitions or need help resolving work related issues may not need much time in therapy. While others who are recovering from trauma or long history of abuse may need more sessions for a longer period of time.
How does therapy work?
It is often hard to acknowledge when you need help and support. Sharing your thoughts, feelings and problems can be difficult when you are feeling vulnerable. Your counselor's role is to guide you through this challenging time by providing you with a sense of safety in a warm accepting atmosphere; to help you navigate your thoughts and feelings to process your experience.
Therapy can help identify the causes of your struggle and provide you with an objective perspective to understand what is holding you back.
The process of therapy can help you identify your strengths that are difficult to see when you are hurting.
Your therapist can help you identify alternative ways to cope, process your emotions, challenge unhealthy thinking patterns or behaviors and help establish meaningful goals to improve your life.
Most importantly, therapy can help you find balance, peace and renew your spirit.
Treatment Approaches
Psychoanalytic Therapy- Examines how the past can influence the present (many of your family of origin issues). This therapy explores how the unconscious mind influences thoughts and behaviors, with the aim of offering insight and resolution to the person client.
Person Centered Approach-The goal of this therapy is to provide you with an opportunity to develop a sense of self where you can realize how your attitudes, feelings and behavior are being negatively affected.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Works to solve current problems and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. CBT is effective for a variety of conditions, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, addiction, dependence, tic, and psychotic disorders.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)- is a therapy similar to CBT which focuses on changing patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm and suicidal thinking. The goal is to help people increase emotional and cognitive regulation by identifying triggers that lead to reactive states. Developing mindfulness skills and radical acceptance are core components of this treatment.
Psycho-educational interventions- Provides educational information about mental health to help empower client's to deal with their struggles in an optimal way. The goal is for the client to better understand and recognize their capabilities and strengthen coping skills to contribute to their own health and well-being.
