Common Questions about Counseling/Therapy in Phoenix

You’ve finally found a therapist! Now what will the therapy sessions look like?

After your thorough search for a therapist, finally finding one that you connect with can feel like such a relief, whew! But now that this trek is over, you may feel another wave of uncertainty start to set in, which may include questions such as “What exactly will counseling/therapy look like? What should I expect from a session?”  These kinds of questions are completely normal to have, especially if you have never gone to therapy and you are absolutely not the only one who has them! As such, here is a list of answers to commonly asked questions in order to hopefully address some of your inquiries!

What is Therapy or Counseling?

The main purpose of therapy or counseling is to provide you with a safe and comfortable space where you can work through issues to help you improve your mental well-being and quality of life. In collaboration with a therapist, you can work towards:

1.     Deepening your understanding of the way you think and process the world around you, as well as the emotions you experience.

2.     Create strategies to help you manage life’s challenges and personal struggles, such as anxiety, depression, stress, emotional regulation, negative thoughts, and more.

3.     Improving your relationships with the people around you by learning how to communicate and navigate conflicts in a healthier and more conductive way.

4.     Healing from past trauma by using various different research- based methodologies to alleviate distress and foster resilience.

How Does Therapy or Counseling Work? What Can I Expect?

Therapy is often divided into a few stages:

1.     Initial Assessment: Therapy sessions often begin with the therapist gathering information about you, your relationships, and significant experiences to assess strengths and factors that may be contributing to current struggles.   

2.     Setting Treatment Goals: After the initial assessment, you and your therapist will collaborate to create goals for what you would like to improve on and what you are looking to gain from the experience. You will also discuss what approach may be most beneficial to you.

3.     Assessing the Effectiveness of Your Treatment Plan

As you begin to implement different strategies and approaches into your life, it is important to monitor the progress you are making toward your goals. If progress becomes stagnant or begins to decline, it may be beneficial to reassess your treatment plan with your therapist and experiment with implementing different approaches to determine which will be most helpful to your unique set of circumstances.

4.     Discontinuing treatment and checking in

Once you feel satisfied with the results of your treatment, you can begin to develop a plan with your therapist to lessen the frequency of your sessions or to stop therapy at this point.

What Issues Can Therapy/Counseling Help With?

Therapy is most commonly known for helping people who struggle with mental health disorders; however, therapy is a tool that can be beneficial to anyone who wants to improve their mental wellness! A few common reasons for seeking therapy may include:

1.     Emotional regulation

2.     Grieving processes

3.     Interpersonal conflicts, such as familial or romantic

4.     Stress from professional and academic settings

5.     Life Transitions

6.     Substance abuse

What are the benefits of therapy/counseling?

Therapy can assist someone in developing skills to improve their personal lives. It can help someone overcome fears or trauma, navigate life changes and unexpected circumstances, facilitate boundary setting and effective communication, improve the relationship with yourself and others, and much more!

What happens if therapy/counseling doesn't seem to be working?

If therapy does not seem to be working, that does not mean that something is wrong with you or that there is no hope in being able to overcome your short-term or long-term struggles. There are several reasons someone may not be getting what they want out of therapy, including:

1. Not being as vulnerable as you could be

It can be really scary to open up to others, especially when the topics involve something that you are more sensitive to or uncomfortable speaking about. But remember that your therapist is there to help you, not to judge or critique the way you process and navigate your life.

2. The approach you are currently using is not most suitable for your needs

Approaches that work really well for others may not work for you, and that’s okay! It’s possible that you may need to work with your therapist to re-evaluate your goals or treatment plan.

3. The therapist you are working with may not be the best match for you

Though it is normal to struggle to connect with your therapist in the beginning, it is also possible that you may just not connect with your therapist in the way you had hoped. That’s okay! After all, they are just people and sometimes people are not compatible. It may be beneficial in this instance to consult with other therapists to find one that you may feel more understood by and/or comfortable with.

If you have any other questions about therapy or are ready to begin this process, call (480)463-4015 for a free 15 minute consultation or click below. I look forward to connecting with you and discussing how therapy can support you in your journey!