Frequently Asked Questions
What is therapy like?
Therapy is very client-centered. Because each individual has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the client. In general, you can expect to discuss the current happenings in your life, your personal history relevant to your issues, and your hopes for your future. In follow-up sessions, you can report progress or insights gained from previous therapy sessions. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term for a specific issue or longer-term to cope with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most beneficial to schedule regular sessions with your therapist.
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 into your daily 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. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.
What are the benefits of therapy?
We can all benefit from having someone, other than friends and family, to talk with that may be able to help us understand things we would not otherwise be able to understand.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
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 sometimes not discussed anywhere but the therapist’s office. The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission or a judge's court order. There are exceptions as noted below. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidentiality 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 your healthcare team; but by law, your therapist cannot release this information with obtaining your written permission.
Please note that some state laws and professional ethics require therapists to break confidentiality in the following situations :
The duration of therapy varies considerably from person to person, so there is not a definitive answer to this question. There will be discussions over the course of therapy about your progress, as well as whether or not you are continuing to benefit from therapy. Discussions regarding termination will optimally be made by both therapist and client.
Can’t you just fix … me, my child, my spouse, my fill-in-the-blank?
No. A therapist cannot give you all the answers you are seeking nor tell you what works and what does not work for you. You are the expert on you. What a therapist can do is give you a safe place to discuss where you have been, where you are now, and where you are going with your life, your boundaries, your communication, your coping, your decisions, your goals, your relationships, and your self-care. Therapy is a safe place to consider what is working and what could be changed in order to live your best life.
What is therapy like?
Therapy is very client-centered. Because each individual has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the client. In general, you can expect to discuss the current happenings in your life, your personal history relevant to your issues, and your hopes for your future. In follow-up sessions, you can report progress or insights gained from previous therapy sessions. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term for a specific issue or longer-term to cope with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most beneficial to schedule regular sessions with your therapist.
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 into your daily 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. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives, and take responsibility for their lives.
What are the benefits of therapy?
We can all benefit from having someone, other than friends and family, to talk with that may be able to help us understand things we would not otherwise be able to understand.
Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?
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 sometimes not discussed anywhere but the therapist’s office. The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission or a judge's court order. There are exceptions as noted below. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidentiality 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 your healthcare team; but by law, your therapist cannot release this information with obtaining your written permission.
Please note that some state laws and professional ethics require therapists to break confidentiality in the following situations :
- Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, and elders to the authorities, including Child Protection Services 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 threatened to harm another person.
The duration of therapy varies considerably from person to person, so there is not a definitive answer to this question. There will be discussions over the course of therapy about your progress, as well as whether or not you are continuing to benefit from therapy. Discussions regarding termination will optimally be made by both therapist and client.
Can’t you just fix … me, my child, my spouse, my fill-in-the-blank?
No. A therapist cannot give you all the answers you are seeking nor tell you what works and what does not work for you. You are the expert on you. What a therapist can do is give you a safe place to discuss where you have been, where you are now, and where you are going with your life, your boundaries, your communication, your coping, your decisions, your goals, your relationships, and your self-care. Therapy is a safe place to consider what is working and what could be changed in order to live your best life.