#6 What should I expect during the counseling process?

Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personality of the therapist, the client, and the particular problems that the client brings. There are a number of different approaches that can be utilized for the problems you hope to address. It is not like visiting a medical doctor in which you get a diagnosis and are put under medical care until you feel better. Psychotherapy requires that you play a very active role in feeling better. In order to be the most successful, you should work on things that you and the therapist talk about both during the session and at home.

Psychotherapy has both benefits and risks. Risks sometimes include experiencing uncomfortable feelings. Psychotherapy often requires discussing unpleasant or difficult aspects of your life. Psychotherapy has also been shown to have long lasting benefits for people who seek it. However, there are no guarantees about the outcome—that is up to you.