Have you ever thought about starting therapy? Do you know of any family or friends who see a therapist? There is a larger discussion around mental health today than there has been in the past and one important piece of this multifaceted conversation is the idea of therapy. Different people decide to engage with therapy for different reasons; however, the benefits of therapy are universal.

What is therapy all about?

Psychotherapy is a collaborative treatment between an individual and a psychologist or other trained mental health professional. The aim of psychotherapy is to help people live happier, healthier, more productive and more fulfilling lives. At its core, psychotherapy is a dialogue between a therapist and patient who are engaged in a professional relationship and who are working together to help the patient learn new skills to cope with challenges and navigate various life circumstances.

The therapeutic approach and treatment vary in order to address a wide range of concerns. For example, therapy can occur individually, with a family unit, or with your significant other. Mental health professionals use empirically supported approaches such as cognitive behavioural, client-centered, and psychodynamic therapy, to name a few. 

While therapists remain objective and nonjudgmental, they each adopt their own unique style when conducting therapy. It's important to find a professional with whom you connect. This means that it is crucial for you to trust your therapist and to feel safe confiding in them. You and your therapist should discuss and navigate your therapy goals at a pace and with an approach that is comfortable for you.

It’s About Your Goals

Therapy is not only intended for those who meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. Many individuals seek therapy for a variety of reasons. Most commonly we hear people talking about starting therapy as a result of experiencing feelings of anxiety and/or depression, after experiencing a job loss, break up, or a traumatic event. Others seek therapy to change negative thinking patterns, increase their confidence, self-esteem, assertiveness, and motivation. Meanwhile, some individuals want to work on decreasing feelings of guilt, anger, or irritability. There are others who take a more preventative approach to their mental health and want to learn to identify maladaptive patterns in their thinking and behaviour before these thoughts and behaviours lead to serious issues in their lives. Others want to explore their patterns of thinking and behaviour to gain insight into their unconscious thoughts and desires to help them better understand themselves.

Therapy goals can also include, wanting to learn to set boundaries with people, improve parenting skills, become more social, more assertive, learn how to cope with everyday stressors, increase concentration, improve sleep, explore attachment styles, issues in relationships; the list is endless. In short, maybe you want to work on becoming the best version of yourself.

Whatever your reason is, the process of therapy can help you to attain your goals. And we would be honoured to engage on this journey with you!

Written by: Natalie DeRose, M. Psy. Candidate, B.A. (Hons)

Edited/Reviewed by: Dr. Stacy Lekkos, C.Psych and Chantal Legere, M.Psy. Candidate, B.A. (Hons)  

References

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