There are numerous reasons and motivations for why people come into psychotherapy. Some people need help dealing with external conflict (dealing with the world), interpersonal conflict (dealing with relationships (platonic, familial, or amorous), or internal conflict (issues within one’s self). Some people are going through a major life transition, some are simply not handling stressful circumstances well and some are at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. The overall reason that people seek therapy is to get help with skills to get them through these periods.

• Subjectively, this is a question only you can answer. Honestly and objectively, the answer is that no, you do not NEED therapy but I truly believe that with the right therapist you can benefit from therapy.
• Therapy can provide you with support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you may face and can also offer long-lasting benefits.
• In life you are bound to go through challenges, trials, and tribulations. Even if you have successfully navigated these difficulties in the past, there’s nothing wrong with seeking extra support when things become overwhelming and you think you need help. In fact, thinking about needing therapy is a sign of self-awareness and indicates that you want to grow personally, and create opportunities for positive change in your life. Taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy, is admirable and the first step to improving your mental health and resiliency.
• You will know that therapy is right for you, if you do the work, begin to make progress towards your goals and see improvements in your life.

• Counseling and therapy can have both risks and benefits. Counseling is not like a medical doctor’s visit.  Counseling requires a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be successful, you will need to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and on your own.
• Therapy is an intensely personal process which can bring unpleasant memories or emotions to the surface and may include discussions of your personal challenges and difficulties which can elicit uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, guilt, anger, and frustration. Progress may happen slowly.
• Therapy has also been shown to have many benefits. Counseling can help you develop coping skills, make behavioral changes, reduce symptoms of mental health disorders, improve the quality of your life, learn to manage anger, learn to live in the present and many other advantages. It can often lead to better interpersonal solutions to specific problems and reduction in your feelings of distress.  However, there is no assurance of these benefits and there are no guarantees that counseling will work for you. 
• A good therapist can be a tremendous asset to managing your personal growth, interpersonal relationships, leadership roles, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. By providing support, skills, and insight. A therapist can also provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
• Gaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your values
• Managing anger, grief, depression, trauma, and other emotional pressures
• Improving communications and listening skills
• Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
• Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
• Managing work-life and work-family conflicts
• Developing skills for improving your relationships
• Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

Just keep in mind that the potential benefits you can obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn.

• Therapy will be different depending on the individual because each person has different issues and goals for their therapy. Generally speaking, sessions usually involve some discussion about your currently life events and problems, your personal history, your thoughts, feelings and emotions, follow-up from the previous therapy session and also periodic progress/growth discussions.
• Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development.
• At times, therapy may extend outside your session because you may be asked to do some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process (i.e. journal on specific topics, note particular behaviors, read a pertinent book, watch a video journaling, practice a skill, or taking action on your stated goals).
• The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life and therefore it is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process.

• Confidentiality is one of the most important aspects of the relationship between a client and psychotherapist.
• Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust due to the discussion of highly sensitive matters that are usually not talked about anywhere but in the therapist’s office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidentiality disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called “Informed Consent”. Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your physician, naturopath, attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
• However, there rare exceptions. State law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations. A therapist MUST break confidentiality when:If a client threatens suicide, attempts to commit suicide, or otherwise conducts him/herself in a manner in which there is a substantial risk of incurring serious bodily harm
• 1. If a client threatens grave bodily harm or death to another person
  2. Reports of suspected neglect or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse of children under the age of 18 years. I am a mandated reported and we are required by law to report this to Child Protective Services, a State agency
  3. Suspicions as stated above but in the case of elderly person abuse
  4. Issuance of a legitimate subpoena for information
  5. If a client is subject to court order treatment OR for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.