Why therapy works.

Let’s get right to the nitty gritty of it:

Therapy works.

But, how? Why?

After working with me for a little more than a year, I recently had a client tell me, “I was skeptical of therapy when my girlfriend set up these sessions, but now, I’m shocked at how much I’ve learned from it!”

What was it about this client’s experience that made such an impact on him?

Here are a few thoughts regarding how and why therapy works for so many:

He was encouraged to feel.

Therapy provided the client with a safe space to explore and express feelings, both positive and negative. I (the therapist) listened without judgment or criticism, which gave the client freedom to communicate without fear of being shamed or ridiculed. This allowed him to develop insight into his emotions and what triggers him, which contributes to the development of healthier coping skills.

He was encouraged to share and felt respected whenever he chose not to share.

I helped the client to feel comfortable and safe, and encouraged him to share his thoughts and feelings openly. However, I also respected the client’s boundaries and choice to not share anything he wasn’t ready to. This gave him the opportunity to process his thoughts and feelings on his own, at his own pace.

Therapy was a safe zone.

Therapy provided a supportive space where the client could talk about difficult topics or feelings that they may not feel comfortable discussing with family or friends. I provided an objective, non-judgmental perspective, which allowed the client to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of being judged or criticized.

The therapist created opportunity for understanding.

I helped him gain insight into his thoughts, feelings and behaviors. I provided guidance and support, while allowing the client to explore and develop understanding of their unique situation.

The skills taught were tailored.

I worked to tailor the sessions to the client’s individual needs, providing him with skills and strategies that were identified as highly beneficial for catalyzing the client’s stated goals. We wrote the goals down and I shared with the couple specific ways I could help them achieve those goals over the course of an agreed upon amount of time. I received feedback from the client in real time regarding each of the skills discussed, and followed up with them regarding the effectiveness of skills used between sessions. This allowed the client to develop strategies that could be used in their daily life to help them manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

Time was given to practice skills.

Imagine for a moment that you decided to build your dream house, and paid a skilled contractor to get the job done. Once the contractor finished the foundation, imagine you became so excited about the project that you brought the contractor some carpeting samples and demanded to get started on beautiful flooring right away!

Would that contractor be wise to put new flooring down before she built the roof?

Everyone can recognize the importance of building a house properly to not waste time and money, but most of us do not know the best way therapy can work for us! This is where I come in. The therapist provides the client with time to properly develop and apply skills discussed. This kind of therapy feels a little less like a classroom and a little more like a boot camp sometimes, but the results are so worth it!

During therapy, the client was given the opportunity to practice the skills they had learned. This allowed them to become more comfortable with the skills and gain confidence in their ability to use them in their daily life.

Our brains are wired to adapt to the environment. Therapy changes the environment.

Therapy creates a different environment for the client, from the first session they attend. In this new environment, they now have a therapist; they now go to therapy. This tiny change, all by itself, can make a difference in how clients view themselves and their potential. Not to mention the in-depth conversations that actually occur during therapy sessions! This change of environment helps the client to gain insight into their thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and to develop strategies that can be used to manage them in daily life.

If you’re skeptical about therapy, or wondering if it might be useful for you, let’s talk. You can schedule a free 20-minute phone call with me using my online calendar, and you won’t be charged a thing unless we schedule and complete your first therapy session. Even if we aren’t the best fit for each other, I’d love to answer your questions and help you get connected to the right therapist for you.