Psychotherapy: Most Frequently Asked Q and A's

Ten Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) About Psychotherapy:

1. What is psychotherapy/psychological counselling?
2. Who can benefit from psychotherapy?
3. Do I have to talk about my past and my childhood?
3. How many sessions before I can expect results /change?
4. What if don't feel comfortable with the therapist?
5. Will I slip back into my old habits once I stop the therapy?
6. How can I prepare for an initial appointment with a psychotherapist?
6. What can I expect during an initial appointment?
9. What type of psychotherapy is best for me?
10. When is it the right time to stop the therapy?

1. What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is an emotionally charged interaction between a psychotherapist and the client (or clients in the case of couple therapy or family therapy) with the purpose of relieving the clients psychological symptoms or to promote desired change in one or more areas of the patient/clients life. It consist of mostly talk therapy, but can also include more holistic mind/body exercises, such as, for example, relaxation exercises, meditation and mindfulness exercises, art therapy, or written exercises when indicated and desired. A typical a session will last 50 to 60 minutes depending on the work schedule of the particular therapist. In my current practice, it is standard for an initial consultation to last 60 minutes and for subsequent sessions to last 50 minutes.

2. Who can benefit from psychotherapy?

Anyone who wish to make a positive change in their life, or who wish to understand themselves and their actions as well as thought patterns better, can benefit from psychological counseling. Psychotherapy is not necessarily exclusive to people who have psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety or addiction. Some people desire psychological counseling to reach their life goals and to improve their life quality.

3. Do I have to talk about my past and my childhood in therapy?

In therapy you do not have to talk about anything that you feel uncomfortable talking about, and you should at all times during the course of your therapy feel free to communicate your personal boundaries for what is acceptable to you and what is not. That said, it is often the subjects that we do not wish to touch, that we could benefit the most from talking about. Always keep in mind that the therapist is a trained listener and she or he will be able to guide you through the sensitive topics with the least discomfort for you. If you continuously feel uncomfortable about sharing your most intimate experiences and memories with your therapist, you may ask yourself if this therapist is the ideal one for you. A good therapeutic relationship should be built on genuine trust, empathy and respect. You do not have to - nor should you - settle for anything less. In some forms of therapy (such as for example brief cognitive therapy) the past is rarely discussed. However, it is important to keep in mind, that our childhood experiences have played a vital role in shaping our present attitudes and beliefs, and it can therefore be useful in many cases to revisit the past in order to reset the present moment.

4. How many sessions should I have before I can expect results /change in my life?

Many people who come to therapy hope for a quick-fix solution to their problems, and while few clients do not need more than a few sessions to solve their problems, in general, the minimum recommended treatment course will be 6-8 weekly session. If problems have gone untreated for many years, and if they are rooted in childhood experiences, it will most likely take more than the minimum recommended sessions for you to feel significantly better. As a basic guideline, the amount of sessions required for significant change in your life varies greatly depending on your particular problem, the amount of time that you have suffered from this problem or problems, your motivation to change, the quality of your support system, your faith in the healing process, and the relationship between you and your therapist. If problems have gone untreated for many years, and if they are rooted in childhood experiences, it will most likely take more than the minimum recommended sessions for you to feel significantly better.

5. What if don't feel comfortable with my therapist?

It is a good idea to have at least a couple of sessions with a therapist before you make up your mind about finding another therapist. Your very first impression of a therapist can be easily clouded by anxiety, preconceived expectations and misunderstandings. If you after a couple of sessions still feel that you cannot trust this therapist, that he or she does not genuinely care about you and your problems, or that you sense a poor chemistry between you and the therapist, then you should look for another therapist. Don't give up on therapy because you don't like the therapist - it is impossible to get along with everybody. However, if you feel uncomfortable with the therapist because he or she resembles a person from your past or current life that you don't get along with (for example a father, sister or co-worker), then therapy with that therapist actually offers you a great opportunity to solve the existing conflict with that person.

6. Will I slip back into my old habits once I stop the therapy?

Psychotherapy is unfortunately not a miracle cure that will make all your problems disappear forever. Positive change and reduction of symptoms require effort, patience and faith in the healing process on your part. Keep in mind, that for significant changes to happen in your level of well-being, you must also make significant changes in your life, such as changing usual thought patterns and deeply ingrained belief systems, and perhaps even changing your lifestyle habits (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep routines). Hopefully, after your sessions have ended, you will also have acquired a number of therapeutic tools that can prevent you from slipping into old habits. Many people benefit from having "booster sessions" once in a while, to bring their life back into perspective, and to be reminded of the ways they can improve their quality of life.

7. How can I prepare for an initial appointment with a psychologist?

You don't need to bring any kind of documents to an initial appointment with a psychologist. You may be asked to wait in a reception area and to fill out a form with some of your personal details before meeting with the therapist. In the office, the therapist will conduct an initial interview, asking about your reasons for seeking therapy, your present symptoms and your goals and expectations of the therapy. The therapist might then give a tentative diagnosis or discuss with you their understanding of your problem in layman's terms and then provide a suggestive treatment plan. In some cases medications might be recommended. The therapist will of course, at any given time, answer any questions you may have about the therapy. Based on the therapist's recommendations, a subsequent appointment will be scheduled.

8. What can I expect during an initial appointment?

An initial appointment usually lasts between 50 to 60 minutes and may feel a bit awkward and extremely personal, because you are sharing some of your secrets and very personal details with someone who is at first a total stranger. The therapist will ask many questions in in order to develop a full understanding of your situation. If you feel uncomfortable answering a question, let the therapist know. A good rapport, or trust, develops over time, and a good therapist understands that revealing certain details may take time.

9. What type of psychotherapy is best for me?

The relationship established between you and the therapist, and not the specific type of therapy, has been proven in multiple studies to be the most important factor for a positive treatment outcome. That said, you may have a preference to a specific type of therapy because of something you have read or heard, or because of previous therapies you have done. There are many different types of psychotherapy, however, there are three major psychological orientations (in brief): 1) psychodynamic therapy, which focus on highlighting how early development and relationships with primary caregivers is intrinsically connected to our current relationship with others and ourselves; 2) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a task-oriented psychological direction that aims to conform negative thought patterns and unwanted behaviours into more positive ones to improve the life quality of the suffering; and 3) humanistic therapy, which emphasises the importance of a warm, empathetic, trusting and equal relationship between the therapist and the client for creating positive change. There are also many combinations of these three orientations. My personal approach to therapy is eclectic, meaning that I draw from the various orientations to tailor, together with my patients, a treatment that is most ideal for my patients and that they feel comfortable with.

10. When is it the right time to stop the therapy?

Therapy, even the deep-rooted psychoanalytic therapy infamous for its intensity and duration, is not meant to last a lifetime. You should be able to feel better and see some progress in your life in months, not years. If you do not feel any level of improvement or change for the better within three weeks, and if your therapist is unwilling to discuss goals and treatment course, you may want to look for another therapist. If you feel as if all your major issues have been resolved and you are full of energy to live your new or re-found happier life, then your should talk to your therapist about discontinuing your therapy.

Camilla Dessing, Lic., MSc., is an fully qualified psychologist with many years of experience consulting individuals, couples and families. She is currently working at the Center For Psychology ( http://www.center4psy.com ) in Singapore. If you wish to schedule an appointment for individual or couple's counseling, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Dessing at Cdessing@center4psyc.com or by calling the Center For Psychology at: (+65) 67332893. Ms. Dessing has many years of successful experience with helping people overcome issues such as anxiety disorders, depression, abuse, grief, relationship problems, etc. She firmly belief that everybody can change through the therapeutic process and that anyone is able to reduce symptoms significantly or overcome entirely their psychological problems, whatever they are, in therapy. Her approach to therapy is client-centered, thus tailored to fit the needs of each individual clients. When needed, and if desired, Ms. Dessing incorporates CBT (cognitive behavioral technique), art therapy, relaxation exercises, mindfulness and psychoanalysis into your specific treatment program.