Frequently Asked Questions
Therapy for Kids and Adolescents Therapy for Adults
Why Go To TherapY
Usually people will decide to see a psychologist because there is a problem in their life. It could be related to work, family, relationships and/or self. Psychologists are trained to work with many different types of problems and people. Some people are referred by loved ones, doctors, or by people at work. Sometimes the idea comes when a person is tired of having the same problem, and wants to get some help and they are motivated to work on the issue.
Therapy is not always easy and requires emotional work in order to change some things in your life. It also may involve learning new and more effective ways of dealing with situations and people. The goal is to help with specific unresolved issues or problems to create change and re-direct your life.
What To Expect
In the first session there will be a lot of questions asked about you, your life, and about why you are here. We will also discuss your past, your growing up and your previous relationships as they may pertain to the present problem. I am also interested in the ways that you have tried to get help, or helped yourself, in the past…what has worked and what hasn’t.
Some of the questions will guide our discussion, and are intended to check on issues that may be relevant for us to work on. You may decide what is important to talk about regarding your story and your problem and also the struggles you have experienced.
The Experience of Therapy
Usually it helps to vent and express yourself and tell your story. It is also usually comforting to know that someone understands and can help. Sometimes by the time people come to see me, they feel that their problems are hopeless and that they have tried to no avail.
At first, and at certain times, therapy can be uncomfortable. However, it is usually a great relief to feel heard and understood. It is important that you feel you have the right therapist for you, that he/she is helping you and that there is progress to the therapy. The problem should get better.
Feeling Nervous or Scared
It is entirely normal to feel scared when you start therapy…this may be uncharted territory for some people. It can help to talk about your fears and apprehensions regarding your therapy.
Is Therapy Working
You will be feeling better and more hopeful, though not necessarily all of the time. Therapy is about starting the process of change. Sometimes change is slow and takes time. Hopefully you will begin noticing differences in your behavior, your thinking, and your sense of well-being.
When therapy is over
This is usually mutually decided by therapist and client. Sometimes it is when all of the issues or goals in therapy have been met or reasonably resolved. Sometimes it is when your need for a therapist changes. At times sessions will be tapered off so that the ending of therapy is more gradual.
What about Confidentiality
The work and the relationship between the therapist and the client are private and confidential. This relationship, in order to be effective, is based upon communication and trust. Psychologists are bound by their professional ethics and by law to maintain the confidentiality of their clients. There are a few exceptions to this that involve when a client is an extreme danger to themselves or others, and certain instances, when clients are in extreme danger, themselves.