Individual Therapy

While the overall goal of therapy is often the very-vague “to be happier,” people don’t always have any idea what that means. That’s okay. Our therapist can help you define what’s not working in your life and break down an overall objective into smaller, achievable goals.

Specifically, your therapist will help you increase your clarity about:

The kind of life you want to build
The kind of changes you want to make
Your beliefs about the presenting problem
The scope and impact of your presenting problem
The skills and knowledge necessary to achieve your goals
The kind of person you aspire to be in order to build the kind of life you want
Your blocks to becoming the kind of person you aspire to be
Your responsibility in the journey—why you need to be a motivated, active participant

During your sessions, try to:

Give your therapist access to the real you. This means being totally honest and vulnerable.

Rip down the walls you’ve built to protect yourself. The only way to get honest, useful feedback is to reveal your truest thoughts and feelings.

Give your therapist feedback. Tell him/her about how you experience the session, what’s helpful/unhelpful and your reactions to both the therapist and the therapy in general.

Providing this feedback enables your therapist to better meet your needs.

Think critically about your sessions, and feel free to question your therapist’s instructions, skills, and rationale.

Periodically ask your therapist to assess your progress with you (if your treatment is longer-term).

You can maximize the benefit you get from your therapy by devoting time to your growth between sessions, as well.

Before every meeting, try to:

Reflect on your goals for being in therapy

Think about the next step you want to take to get closer to reaching your goals—prioritizing them helps create the life you really want

To create the life you really want, you will have to prioritize your therapy and your growth. This looks different for each person but may mean spending some of your free time differently, tolerating temporary emotional discomfort in the name of lasting change, and being open to change — even if it’s scary.

In general, try to:

Listen to your discomfort

Discomfort is revealing and useful. You should expect it, as it is always part of the growth process. In therapy you will take risks and try novel ways of thinking and behaving. Your growth depends on your ability to tolerate this discomfort. It’s crucial to choose a therapist you trust so that when discomfort strikes, you feel safe enough to let down your walls and examine the cause. However, if your discomfort seems to stem more from your relationship with your therapist, it could be a red flag signaling the need for a change. Trust yourself on this.

Be Open to Change

You’re entering therapy for support and guidance as you make changes in your life. Since how you’ve been living (thinking, behaving, etc.) is no longer working for you, it’s time to take your life off autopilot and try something new. If you’re with a therapist you trust, take the risk! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.