"The purpose of Therapy. Is it for you?"

Of course, when we have some type of physical issue we can’t treat on our own we see a doctor of medicine. The same logic is true for our mental and emotional health. When we are experiencing mental and emotional issues that become overwhelming, we should see a therapist with the expertise and training to help us heal. These issues can be the result of life changes, relationships, individual problems, including addiction or depression. And the symptoms can range from uncomfortable and unwanted, to debilitating. We do not have to live like this. Therapy can provide a way to cope or move beyond these issues. Unfortunately, because of the stigma often surrounding the idea of seeing a therapist and the cultural belief that we shouldn’t need to see someone for our emotional problems, a lot of people wait longer than they should. The sooner you decide to see a therapist, the faster you can begin experiencing a change in your current situation.

The purpose of therapy is to: gain insight, awareness, relief from symptoms, and the ability to create change. As such, therapy is for anyone who is wanting or needing to: find relief from emotional symptoms that are affecting quality of life (such as depression, anxiety, grief, anger etc); gain insight into how their behavior/thought patterns are negatively affecting desired results; learn how to have and participate in satisfying, meaningful relationships improve their marriage or significant relationship(s); create change in their lives; gain the perspective and skills to live as the best version of themselves; become more aware and connected to themselves and others, and have a safe place where they can get encouragement and validation.

Having an objective third party provide you with an alternate perspective and the skills and treatment needed to create change and alleviate unwanted symptoms/behavior patterns, not only offers relief but also gives you the ability to create different, more desirable results in your current situation and moving forward. My job as a therapist is to create a safe and comfortable environment for my clients, give them honest and productive feedback, new tools, options, outlooks, and solutions so that they can create the life they desire and be the person they want to be.

The importance of the therapeutic relationship

A therapist may have many years of experience or plaques on their wall. While both of those are valuable, research shows those things actually matter less than you think. When it comes to getting results, the single most important factor in creating therapeutic change is actually the relationship that you have with your therapist. As a result, finding the best fit for YOU is crucial. There are many theories, opinions, and schools of thought when it comes to therapy and how a therapist should approach client issues and concerns. My philosophy is this: because people are unique with their own individual experience, I pull from many different theories, exercises, and fields of thought to create an experience that is custom to my clients' personality, concerns, and specific needs. My clients set the goals and objectives for their therapeutic experience. My job is to help them get symptom relief and teach them how to achieve those goals and objectives.