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What to Expect from Therapy


In the past, people thought therapy would “fix” them. They thought if they went to the therapist they would be repaired, much like taking their car to the auto mechanic. Yet today, there is a new model of therapy emerging for the 21st century.

Therapy can now be seen as a journey of self discovery. A journey where you may realize strengths you thought you never had, and address weaknesses you thought you could not face. It is a place to be with what hurts within while stepping into being really great. In the presence of a skillful, non-judgmental, compassionate therapist, you will have the opportunity to face these aspects of yourself so that new ways of being can emerge.

Why Should You Go to Therapy?
Whether the issue is anger management, anxiety, disconnection from life, children acting out, marital difficulties, addictive behaviors, or any number of concerns, the reason to seek therapy is now clear. Therapy is an opportunity for transformation. Learning alternative choices, growing into a new you, and evolving old patterns of behavior can be a wonderful adventure and journey. The question is, will you be willing to take this journey of self discovery, and face both the beautiful as well as the not so beautiful within.

What to Look for in a Therapist

If you are willing to take this deep journey, you may need a skillful, professional guide who can help. With such a guide, clients connect to a better understanding of themselves so that harmful patterns become retooled, reworked and restored. An ideal therapist is a skillful guide who can help others see what needs to be developed and transformed within themselves. They can use a variety of modalities to assist clients including talk therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, archetypal imagery, energy work, meditation and group therapy.

What Makes Therapy Work

Research shows that regardless of the method, what makes counseling work is the relationship between therapist and client. Developing a rapport between therapist and client can take a bit of time, but being open to developing this bond can really help. Nevertheless, people sometimes express that after a while nothing seems to be happening in their therapy. After examining all possible barriers to therapy working, clients may have to be willing to go into parts of themselves which have previously not been explored. At a point, a shift usually happen when blaming others stops and the client goes farther into their unknown strengths and weaknesses. New behaviors then emerge which can help for better functioning in the world.

This is Your Therapy

When therapy does not work, the question lingers, is it me or is it the therapist? Hopefully the therapist is engaged in their own growth and development. Yet it is also up to the client to take ownership of therapy. The question is, how much responsibility are you willing to take for your own personal growth, change, and that of your family? When therapy works, the therapist and client work together to create that change.