Most of us have reservations about seeking therapy. Apart from the stigma associated with therapy, it is also the ambiguity of "what is therapy, what can I expect from it, how long will the duration be, will I need medication and what will I achieve from it" that add to the resistance of seeking therapy. This blog is aimed at providing information and clarifying common doubts related to therapy.
What is therapy?
Therapy (or psychotherapy) is the process of working with a therapist/psychologist to develop insight and understanding in one’s behaviour. It is about having a safe, neutral space where the person can explore his or her self and figure out the reason for why he/she is that way in terms of feelings, thoughts or reactions. Through this increased understanding of one’s self, the person is then able to develop a healthy relationship with one’s self and the ability to develop tolerance and resilience. These are precursors to work on anything ranging from self-esteem to lifestyle issues, anxiety to depression, mood fluctuations etc. Therapy also helps develop positive thinking and healthy techniques to resolve issues and coping skills to heal mental health issues and trauma.
Thus, therapy is a dynamic process and a way of changing your perspective on how to handle stressful situations. It is also a commitment to yourself and to opening yourself up to someone else; being willing to trust someone enough to let them into your life and learn from each other.
What can I expect from the process of therapy?
A therapeutic space should make you feel safe, comfortable and respected. The therapy space should not make you feel judged for your beliefs and actions. Therapy should address your needs, concerns, desires and goals. If you're going to be talking to someone about your most personal thoughts, you want to feel comfortable and understood. You have a right to confidentiality whereby your therapist will respect your privacy and will not share anything shared by you with another person. In fact, this principle also applies in group sessions, wherein even the group members will respect each other’s confidentiality.
Before deciding to go to a therapist, you might want to spare a thought about the kind of therapist you would be more comfortable with sharing your thoughts. Would you feel more comfortable with a man or a woman, maybe someone older or younger than you, or from your cultural background, and/or someone more formal or friendly? However, it is advisable that your therapist is non-judgmental and makes you feel safe and comfortable.
During therapy, your therapist will encourage you to talk about your thoughts and feelings and what's troubling you. Don't worry if you find it hard to open up about your feelings. This is natural but you should be able to gradually gain confidence and a sense of comfort with your therapist. Over time, discussing your concerns can help improve your mood, change the way you think and feel about yourself, and improve your ability to cope with problems.
What is the duration of therapy?
Depending on your situation, therapy can be fairly short or long-term. Often, therapists want to see you once/twice a week for 50-60 minutes. Your first few sessions will be different from future visits. The initial visits are more of a "getting to know you" session and will help your therapist get an idea of how to proceed with your therapeutic plan. You can choose to have a handful of sessions to work on an immediate problem or have more sessions to work on the root of your problem. On an average, clients tend to feel some change in 8-10 sessions. The actual time it takes to work on issues depends on factors such as the length of time you have been experiencing the issues, how long you can trace them back to, how severely you feel they affect your life at the moment, your willingness to adapt to new ways of understanding, and reacting and responding to events in your life.
Will I need medication?
Therapy should usually be your first option because not every client requires medication. Whether medication is required or not depends on whether the problem is biological or just psychological and how severe is the distress level that you feel. Whether you choose to take the medication route or not is completely your choice. While medication can help alleviate the symptoms, the root of the problem cannot be eliminated without therapy.
A therapist may suggest for you to get an opinion from a psychiatrist regarding if and what your requirement is for medication. Even so, it is your personal choice at the end.
What will I achieve from Therapy?
Different people may have different goals they want to achieve through therapy, but here are some common achievements you will definitely experience. You can:
• Build self-awareness
• Strengthen your self-confidence
• Understand the connection between thoughts and how they affect the way you feel
• Change behaviours that hold us back
• Handle strong emotions like fear, grief or anger
• Feel equipped to handle challenges
• Heal pains from the past
• Build relationship skills
• Figure out your goals from self, at work, in relationships, in life
• Enhance your problem-solving skills
• Build resilience and coping skills
If you feel that negative thoughts, stress, anxiety, feelings of depression, instability in mood, unhealthy relationships, lack of motivation occupy large spaces in your life, then therapy can provide a safe space to help you explore the reasons for them and help you resolve them so that you can become the best version of yourself. Thus, therapy can help you to understand your situation, prioritize your needs and desires and help fulfil your life goals.
