The Client: An Invitation to Opportunities & Challenges
Commit to Yourself
Therapy works best with regular weekly sessions. Establishing a weekly routine helps you to reach elements in your psyche which might otherwise go missed. Therapy is less effective if appointments regularly missed. In making your appointment, find a mutually convenient time and do your best to stick with it. After a time, you will begin to feel the rhythm of a session in your week and will find comfort in it.
Communication
You do not have to have a brilliant mind or be a flawless speaker to benefit from therapy. If you're able to describe your problems to others, then you're likely a good candidate for therapy. Our emotions, for example, anger and anxiety, can make it hard for us to speak, but in those moments they too are part of our expression, and hence are valuable, not obstacles to avoid. Reality and fantasy can also be difficult to separate, at times. There are usually reasons for this, and we will work together to learn what they are.
Face Change
It is not uncommon for us to be ambivalent about getting help. In some cases, we cling to unuseful modes of relating and existing for many years and so become comfortable with those patterns even though they may be limiting us. Admitting to ourselves that they need help may be hard. It's natural to resist change, especially at a psychological level. We may feel our identities are at stake. However, when we find that our current way of behaving is short-changing our potential, we have motivation for making change.
Addictions
Addictions to drinking, drugs, over-eating and video games, pornography and others, can be extremely problematic. They affect our relationships and our self-esteem. They can affect our careers and our families. Therapy can be a place where you speak about what might be behind the addiction. You can think of coming to a session as an opportunity to look through a window together with someone who wants to help you see what's out there that might be contributing to that behaviour.
Contacting the Therapist
Call (or email) me so we can chat briefly before we arrange an appointment time. If you get my voice-mail please leave your number and some times I can reach you. When we speak, please feel free to ask questions you’re wondering about.