Frequently Asked Questions

The process of therapy can be somewhat difficult to define given the variety of approaches used by therapists. In general, psychotherapy is the process of meeting with a therapist to talk about problematic thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and feelings. Talking about these issues fosters insight into the problems experienced, increases self-awareness, and removes psychological barriers that prevent you from achieving your goals and having a sense of well-being.

Sessions are 50 minutes long and treatment begins by meeting once a week at minimum. As treatment progresses, sessions may decrease to every other week when clinically appropriate.

The length of time you are in counseling varies based on the nature of the issues presented and the specific goals of the counseling process. Some issues are more specific and can be resolved in a set amount of sessions, but others may be addressing more serious and deeper issues that require a longer term commitment to fully work though and resolve. Some people find that counseling is an ongoing process for personal growth and development that helps foster self-awareness and use therapy as a part of their life to achieve personal and professional goals.

The primary focus of individual therapy is on the internal psychological process of the person and how one’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior effect an overall sense of of well-being. While couples counseling takes this into account, the primary focus is on the relationship and how each partner contributes to the relative health of the bond between two people. In this sense, the relationship is the actual “client” in couples therapy. Work is done to improve effective lines of communication, decrease explosiveness of arguments, and increase warmth in all areas of the relationship.

The notion that the only people who need therapy are “crazy” or “damaged” is a falsehood. The majority of people who attend therapy are ordinary people suffering from everyday human problems, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem issues, life meaning, and work related stress.