The things people usually want to ask.

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapy can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, and creative blocks.

Many people also find that counseling can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, and the hassles of daily life. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your 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 communication and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated 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, redirect damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.

People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. Some may be going through a major life transition such as unemployment, divorce, or a new job, or are not handling stressful circumstances well. Some people need assistance managing low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, addictions, or relationship problems. Others may simply be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves.

In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy looks different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and any progress or new insights gained since the previous session.

Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or a desire for more personal development. It is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist, usually weekly.

You will get more out of therapy if you actively participate in the process. Beyond the work we do in session, I may suggest things you can do outside of therapy to support your process, such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, or noting particular behaviors.

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional difficulties, 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. Working with your medical doctor, you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.

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 usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. This is called informed consent, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone.

Sometimes you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team, such as your physician or psychiatrist. By law, your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.

State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except in the following situations:

• Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of children, adults, or elders, reported to the appropriate authorities
• If the therapist has reason to believe the client is in serious danger of harming themselves or has threatened to harm another person
• If the therapist's records are subpoenaed by a court of law