How Therapy Can Help You
Most people who are considering engaging in the therapy process, experience a wide range of emotions. One part of you may be feeling relieved and hopeful about taking this step. Another part of you may be feeling ambivalent, unsure, or anxious about making the first appointment. Regardless of how you are feeling in this moment, I am very glad that you found your way to my site. I realize that the decision to begin therapy is not always an easy one. It can be difficult to take that initial step of scheduling an appointment, not to mention sitting with a therapist and sharing personal details about your life. This can be especially true if you are about to do this for the first time.
What happens in therapy can be difficult to put into words. Put simply, therapy is about letting your voice be heard. Your time in therapy is yours and yours alone. You will be encouraged to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and life experiences in the presence of someone who will listen in a non-judgmental way. My expectations of my clients are simple – that they attend their scheduled sessions, and that they are honest. In return, I will be an attentive and emotionally present ally, helping you learn healthier and more effective ways to approach daily struggles. This is absolutely a collaborative effort, with both of us doing our part to help you achieve your goals. In my experience, clients who are willing to engage in this type of collaboration gain greater insight and self-awareness, cope more successfully with stress and symptoms of anxiety or depression, and report greater fulfillment and satisfaction in their relationships.
Even if there are no specific difficulties that you are dealing with at the current time, regular therapy sessions will give you the opportunity to focus on yourself, to take better care of yourself, and to reflect on the things that are going well in your life, as well as the things that you find challenging.
I have a great deal of respect for each client with whom I meet. I am inspired on a daily basis by the courage that my clients demonstrate as they sit across from me and share their life experiences. I consider it a privilege to work as a psychologist and to bear witness to the obstacles that my clients overcome and the positive changes that they make in their lives.
…Christina Doherty, PhD