When To Seek Therapy and How Does It Work?
We start by discussing the details of what brought you in and what you would like to get from our meeting together. We set some specific goals and develop a plan to get you from where you're at to where you would like to be. This keeps us focused in our work together and is adjusted as we proceed to keep it current. My focus will be on what is happening in the present and what brought you in. Whatever has happened in the past that is relevant and is affecting you now will become evident and can then be addressed.
My style is one of active engagement, which means that I listen, seek to understand, speak, question, explore other possibilities and listen some more. I can be direct when needed, but I'm not at all aggressive in my approach. If you ever wonder what I am thinking you can ask and I will tell you. I approach this work with curiosity, respect and humor.
Something I find particularly useful is to explore the options available for a given situation, because we all can get stuck in how we see things and how we respond. Looking at the possibilities for a given situation, considering their pro's and con's and exploring the feelings and reactions around them can be very useful. When we have more choices and responses it helps us to become unstuck and open up new possibilities.
My style is one of active engagement, which means that I listen, seek to understand, speak, question, explore other possibilities and listen some more. I can be direct when needed, but I'm not at all aggressive in my approach. If you ever wonder what I am thinking you can ask and I will tell you. I approach this work with curiosity, respect and humor.
Something I find particularly useful is to explore the options available for a given situation, because we all can get stuck in how we see things and how we respond. Looking at the possibilities for a given situation, considering their pro's and con's and exploring the feelings and reactions around them can be very useful. When we have more choices and responses it helps us to become unstuck and open up new possibilities.
Here are a few of the approaches we might use:
Awareness - Becoming aware of the dynamics surrounding a behavior or problem can lead to positive, lasting change.
Solution Focus - This approach can be used to clearly identify the problem, identify how you have solved similar problems in the past, identify your strengths and come up with a solution based on these strengths.
Depth Psychology - This can address deeply ingrained negative patterns and behaviors that are the result of past experiences (from your family, past losses, etc). They are explored, experienced, better understood, which brings increased awareness and resolution.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Sometimes a problem or behavior is just a habit or inaccurate way of thinking. The focus is not just on understanding, but on change through changing the behavior directly and/or changing ways of thinking that are not helpful.
Coaching - At times it helps to have an idea of how to approach things differently.
Support - At times just the support of someone who will listen, not judge and who does not tell you what you should think or do can be very helpful and bring change. Sometimes in the speaking we find that we know the answer.
And there are others. Which one really depends on what is trying to be accomplished and what is getting in the way of this happening.
Awareness - Becoming aware of the dynamics surrounding a behavior or problem can lead to positive, lasting change.
Solution Focus - This approach can be used to clearly identify the problem, identify how you have solved similar problems in the past, identify your strengths and come up with a solution based on these strengths.
Depth Psychology - This can address deeply ingrained negative patterns and behaviors that are the result of past experiences (from your family, past losses, etc). They are explored, experienced, better understood, which brings increased awareness and resolution.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Sometimes a problem or behavior is just a habit or inaccurate way of thinking. The focus is not just on understanding, but on change through changing the behavior directly and/or changing ways of thinking that are not helpful.
Coaching - At times it helps to have an idea of how to approach things differently.
Support - At times just the support of someone who will listen, not judge and who does not tell you what you should think or do can be very helpful and bring change. Sometimes in the speaking we find that we know the answer.
And there are others. Which one really depends on what is trying to be accomplished and what is getting in the way of this happening.
The Good News
Change can happen. If you know what it is that you want and need, if you learn other ways of seeing a situation and understand that there are different possibilities, you can then make different choices and take different actions. You have the power to make change happen and you don't have to depend on circumstances or other people for your situation to improve.
Change can happen. If you know what it is that you want and need, if you learn other ways of seeing a situation and understand that there are different possibilities, you can then make different choices and take different actions. You have the power to make change happen and you don't have to depend on circumstances or other people for your situation to improve.
The Real News
If we don't look to circumstances or other people to change (which is mostly out of our control), how do things change? Change happens when we change our perspective, our behavior, our choices and our part in how we engage and interact (which is within our control). The great thing is that how people respond and how life responds to us will change as we change. We are all too connected for it not to.
If we don't look to circumstances or other people to change (which is mostly out of our control), how do things change? Change happens when we change our perspective, our behavior, our choices and our part in how we engage and interact (which is within our control). The great thing is that how people respond and how life responds to us will change as we change. We are all too connected for it not to.
Is It All Up To Me?
No, there are bad situations and people have there problems. And waiting for them to change can leave you powerless and stuck. You just need to be aware of your part and be willing to do something different. And that is where counseling comes in. Understanding what you want, your part in getting it and what you can do differently is much more productive than focusing on something external to you, something that you have little or no control over (like other peoples behavior, feelings, thoughts or the state of the economy).
No, there are bad situations and people have there problems. And waiting for them to change can leave you powerless and stuck. You just need to be aware of your part and be willing to do something different. And that is where counseling comes in. Understanding what you want, your part in getting it and what you can do differently is much more productive than focusing on something external to you, something that you have little or no control over (like other peoples behavior, feelings, thoughts or the state of the economy).
Positive Change Does Take Some Effort
Change can be frightening and exciting. We want the end results, but can be hesitant to take action because it takes effort and can be difficult. But taking action allows us to discover that we have power and are not trapped, that there are new and different possibilities available to us and that there is a better way within our reach.
Change can be frightening and exciting. We want the end results, but can be hesitant to take action because it takes effort and can be difficult. But taking action allows us to discover that we have power and are not trapped, that there are new and different possibilities available to us and that there is a better way within our reach.
Please give me a call and let's have a conversation to see how I can be of help. This won’t cost you anything except a little of your time.
Mark
Mark
- Now The Details -
The How
- Let's First Talk About Change -
- Let's First Talk About Change -
Therapy Is Not All That Complicated
While the sort of process below may go on as we work together, it is not something you have to be aware of, that's my role as a therapist.
- You come in, we have a conversation, you gain understanding, insight and hope.
- You have a new perspective and make different choices, which establish new and better ways of living, loving and working.
- Yes, this is the simple version of what happens in therapy and change can be difficult at times, but it is more than possible to overcome issues, problems, struggles and pain.
While the sort of process below may go on as we work together, it is not something you have to be aware of, that's my role as a therapist.
When you just want more out of life: You may get caught up with your daily living and forget to live. Or we may be dealing with past hurts, disappointment, guilt and/or childhood or adult traumas. Counseling helps you to heal past wounds and increase your capacity for all human emotions so that you can feel more joy and peace in your life.
When you are grieving: Modern culture hurries people to get over their grief. Counseling respects your pace and offers you the support you need so that you are not alone in this delicate process.
When you are going through a major transition and struggling: Transitions can be predictable (getting married, having a baby, etc.) or unpredictable (separation, divorce, threat of being laid off). Counseling can help you deal with the stresses of going through these different transitions and help you make good choices at these critical times.
When you are having relationship problems that can't seem to be resolved: We all thrive on good relationships and therapy can help you improve your communication, sort out conflicts and improve the level of intimacy.
When you experience depression and anxiety: Depression and anxiety are signals for the need of better self-care. It means that the demands of life have outweighed your personal resources. Counseling helps to equip you with the proper coping skills, which will help to prevent depression and anxiety from becoming chronic parts of your life.
The When
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