If you’re at the doorstep of a therapist for the first time, you may be wondering..
What is Psychotherapy?
Grounded in dialogue, it provides a supportive environment allowing you to talk openly with a trained professional who’s objective, neutral, and non-judgemental.
Will I benefit from psychotherapy?
Apart from diagnosed mental illnesses or trauma, psychotherapy also helps with coping with a broad variety of emotional disturbances in daily life, medical illness, or loss-like the death of a loved one
What should I expect?
Your psychologist will examine your mental status and ask about other relevant information such as the history of your presenting problems, medical illnesses, biological functions such as sleep and appetite, daily routine and living environment, your family support and dynamics, your personal strengths, etc. It is okay to take time if you don’t feel ready to share certain information yet.
Assessment – questionnaires to assess the severity and range of the symptoms will be administered in order to serve as an intake baseline, and monitor the effectiveness of therapy.
Goal setting – you will work together to identify the thoughts and behavior patterns that are keeping you from functioning at your best.
The key aspects we base our therapeutic approach are-
- Cognitive triangle – thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence each other. To change any one, we focus on the other two.
- The B-C connection – our emotions and behaviours (consequence) in an adversity are caused by the meaning we assign to that event (beliefs), and not the event itself. Hence, we have a choice to think differently and feel different.
- Homework – weekly tasks are mutually set for the client to reinforce the new thinking/behaving beyond the one hour of the therapy sessions; and are considered extremely important to change old ways.
How long does it last?
Duration – roughly 1 hour
Frequency – weekly
Number – clients can choose to have a single session, or multiple. The number would then depend upon the range and severity of the symptoms (between 6 to 20 sessions).