Individual Therapy
“Think of your head as an unsafe neighborhood; don't go there alone.”
― Augusten Burroughs, Dry
I think I need my head examined…
Generally, people come to therapy for one of two reasons: either they are searching for relief from some type of pain or distress or they feel that they are in a reasonably good place, but are looking to maximize their potential. In many cases, it is a combination of those reasons.
Most people enter therapy hoping to find relief. Most commonly, anxiety and depression have been weighing them down and they are looking for a respite from the pain. It’s natural and you have our empathy. Emotional pain compromises your quality of life, robbing you of sleep, plaguing during waking hours and preventing you from savoring the activities that used to bring you joy. Therapy is a way of facing the pain and developing the tools to work through it. Relief is in your power and we will be your partners in helping you find it.
Pull up a chair and share…
Individual therapy is probably what most people think of when they think of therapy. You, lying on a divan, staring up at the ceiling sharing your latest dream while a balding man with a small beard sits in a chair nearby taking notes and thoughtfully smoking a pipe. The reality is much different. Of course, we aim for a comfortable and serene atmosphere, but therapy is a cooperative and collaborative endeavor. From the moment you enter the room, we become your partner. Your goals become our goals. If discussing your dreams is somehow helpful to that, by all means, share your dreams. But more likely, you’re coming to therapy for a safe space to give voice to your emotions, your thoughts and your hopes. That’s what we provide. That and a place to work through your struggles and find ways to make your life the one you’ve always wanted.
For each, their own
As we have said before, therapy looks differently for each person. We pride ourselves on being truly integrative. This means that we use a combination of different approaches and interventions to customize therapy to your individual needs and concerns.
That said, you can expect that we will use some tried and true methods at different points in the process. For example, we use a technique called motivational interviewing that has proven to be very valuable and helpful to our clients, regardless of background or what brought them to therapy. Motivational interviewing involves us asking a series of open-ended questions designed to help bring clarity to what might be an appropriate course of change and empower you to embrace that path. The goal is not to direct you what to do (in fact, we use directive cues very sparingly). Rather, we collaborate with you to address areas where you may be ambivalent about making a change, help sort out your feelings and then guide you in drawing on your own resources to pursue a course of change designed to significantly improve the quality of your life.
One thing to keep in mind is that our approach, especially when it comes to individual therapy, is results-oriented. We understand that your time is limited and valuable and we want to honor your investment in therapy. We get right to work – identifying your needs, outlining your goals and crafting a clear course of treatment that will get you where you want to go.
Let’s go
The sooner we get to work, the sooner you get the relief you need and the sooner you achieve the goals you always wanted to achieve. We know that taking the leap and starting therapy can be daunting but there is so much to gain and so little to lose by starting today. Give us a call and set up your first session.