Common Questions

How can therapy help me?
Psychotherapy, talk therapy, and counseling are all terms used when treatment revolves around a patient talking to a therapist every week. Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant and painful aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable and intense feelings of sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. Psychotherapy has been shown to have benefits for people; it can lead to improved relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, there are no guarantees of what you may experience.

The real work and cure in certain types of psychotherapy is actually how you relate to your therapist over time. It isn’t necessarily what you say in session, describing your problems, but more the process. For example, if you are venting and you feel your therapist disagrees with you, then you might get angry and defiant, or perhaps sad and feel let down. But to get the most out of your therapy, it would be best to tell your therapist that his or her comment made you feel angry, sad, abandoned, etc. and discuss this interpersonal problem rather than just go on talking about the flat tire you got on the way home from work.

This works on the process and patterns between you and your therapist and may actually give you better skills for dealing with these tough situations in everyday life when other people let you down, abandon you, or make you feel angry, or sad. This way you will know how to handle these situations better without getting depressed, anxious, drunk, violent, or suicidal.

 

A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

  • Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values

  • Developing skills for improving your relationships

  • Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy

  • Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

  • Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures

  • Improving communications and listening skills

  • Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones

  • Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage

  • Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

 
What is therapy like?
 

Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual.  In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session.  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. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).

It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.

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Tracye A. Polson, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., P.A.

Jacksonville, FL 32205 

904-599-5867