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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you have to be "crazy" or not functioning to go to therapy?
Therapy is a means of providing an ongoing support and intervention in to help the individual, couple or family deal with or change personal and private issues and problems that they have not been able to satisfactorily handle on their own.
2. Is therapy about blaming others or not taking responsibility for myself?
Although we may focus on the origins of issues, this only serves to provide a deeper level of insight and understanding which allows you to resolve past issues and move forward. Acknowledging the past, both th e good and bad, in therapy can actually help build the desired relationships in your life.
3. How is a therapist different than talking to a friend?
Although therapists are generally friendly, approachable, caring people the relationship you have with your therapist is different than the relationship you have with your friends. Talking to a therapist is a targeted conversation about your issues and your life. A therapist can be objective in a way that no friend or family member can, as the therapist's role in your life is simply to assist you in feeling better and functioning at a higher level.
4. What if I can't talk for a full hour?
It is my job to put you at ease so that you can talk. Most clients say that the therapy hour tends to go very quickly. We focus on what you want to talk about, plus there are no visible clocks to watch. It seems to surprise people how easy it is to get lost in the conversation.
5. Don't therapists get bored listening to others problems all day?
I truly enjoy my job, and each of my clients. I enjoy finding out about people, and how they work, and have never gotten bored. I value each person that I work with - I view it as an honor that they chose to share their lives with me.
6. Is it a sign of weakness to go to therapy?
It sounds cliché, but admitting that you need help is the opposite of being weak and the first step to feeling better. I believe that everyone can benefit from therapy.
7. Do children need therapy?
Sometimes they do. The same kinds of events that affect adults affect a child and they do not have the coping tools or control over their lives that adults have. Some children who are sad, overanxious or hyperactive can benefit tremendously from therapy.
8. Who will know I am in therapy?
The therapist-patient relationship is strictly confidential. As a rule, I am not able to reveal any information, even that you are a client without specific written permission from you. Unless you instruct me otherwise, I will never tell anyone that you are in therapy or a client of mine; you are in complete control.
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