What can therapy do for me?
Therapy is a space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. Whether you’re navigating life transitions, managing stress, or coping with anxiety, depression, or trauma, therapy offers personalized support to help you find clarity and relief.
Therapy can:
-Enhance self-awareness: Gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your experiences.
-Improve relationships: Learn communication skills, set boundaries, and foster healthier connections with others.
-Provide tools for coping: Develop strategies to handle stress, manage emotions, and face challenges with confidence.
-Encourage personal growth: Build resilience, overcome self-doubt, and unlock your full potential.
Every person’s journey is unique, and therapy meets you where you are, helping you move toward the life you want.
If I feel as though I can handle my issues on my own, is therapy really necessary?
There isn’t a person alive who doesn’t experiences challenges of some kind throughout their life. It’s natural to feel capable of managing challenges on your own, and many people do so successfully. However, therapy isn’t just for when you feel overwhelmed—it’s also a proactive step toward personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself. Therapy isn’t about whether you need it—it’s about whether you can benefit from it. Even when things feel manageable, having a supportive space to reflect, grow, and thrive can make a meaningful difference.
What makes people go to therapy in the first place? How do I know if it’s the right decision?
While everyone’s reasons for coming to therapy are different, whether they’re going through a big life change, or a specific event like divorce, or just aren’t dealing with stressful situations ideally. Sometimes, the assistance of therapy can not only help with specific situations, but personal issues as well. Depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and even low-self esteem are often common reasons to seek out help. You may start out looking for one thing, and find on your journey that you can gain so much more through learning the right skills, and having the right kind of encouragement.
In terms of making the ‘right decision’ for yourself, of course therapy is a personal decision, but if you take a look at your life, and your desire is to make a change that starts from within, it’s likely that some form of psychotherapy could be a great benefit. Therapy isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s an investment in yourself. Whether you’re looking for guidance or simply a space to reflect and grow, therapy can help you lead a more fulfilling and intentional life.
What can I expect from therapy?
Therapy is a collaborative process designed to help you explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. While everyone’s journey is unique, here’s what you can generally expect:
-A Safe Space: Therapy provides a confidential, nonjudgmental environment where you can share openly and feel heard.
-A Partnership: Your therapist works with you to identify your goals and create a plan tailored to your needs. This is your journey, and you’re in control.
-Self-Exploration: You’ll gain insights into patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that may be impacting your life.
-Practical Tools: Therapy often includes learning strategies to manage stress, regulate emotions, improve communication, and navigate challenges.
-Growth at Your Own Pace: Progress looks different for everyone. Whether it’s making small shifts or deep transformations, therapy meets you where you are.
-Challenges and Support: Growth isn’t always easy. There may be moments of discomfort, but your therapist is there to support and guide you through them.
Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all experience. It evolves as you do, adapting to your needs and priorities over time. It’s a space where you can heal, grow, and build a a stronger foundation for the life you want to lead.
How does insurance factor into therapy?
Insurance companies are different – some offer mental health coverage, while others do not. The easiest way to find out if mental health care is covered by your provider is to contact them, to make sure you understand their options. If you’re looking for a good place to start in asking them questions, you could consider asking what their coverage amounts are for therapy sessions, what an out-of-network provider might cost, or if prior approval will be needed from your primary care physician. Don’t be afraid to ask enough questions so you feel confident in knowing how your insurance responds to mental health care.
Do the topics in each therapy session remain private?
There is practically nothing more important in therapy than confidentiality. As with any doctor/patient agreement, your privacy is of the utmost importance. A good therapist understands the vulnerability and openness that must come from each patient in order to really get through, so therapy itself can take a lot of trust, and that needs to be developed over time. Make sure your therapist offers a confidentiality agreement before you begin your sessions, typically called ‘informed consent.’ It is your choice if you’d like to have your therapist share anything significant with your other healthcare providers, but this can only be done with your written consent. Nothing you share in your sessions is to be told to anyone else, with the rare exceptions of suspected abuse of any kind (including child protection), or if the therapist has any reason to believe their patient may hurt themselves, or others. These situations are a matter of ethical procedures, and sometimes, even the law.