Psychotherapy Information
What is Psychotherapy?
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Psychotherapy is one of the healing arts: a time honored and powerful approach to healing the heart and soul. More simply, psychotherapy is the practice of talking things through with a skilled and trusted professional. Therapy provides a context for solving problems and healing emotional pain, and can be helpful in addressing some of the difficulties people face in their work and personal lives.
What is the difference between psychotherapy and talking to a friend?
Psychotherapy provides a safe place to look at those parts of your life that aren't working well and are causing you or your family pain. The therapeutic relationship is unusual because both you and your therapist give full attention to you and your situation. This allows you to focus on yourself and to speak freely in a way which may not be available in your personal or social life. While it may be difficult for friends or family to listen without judgments or expectations, or without offering advice, a therapist is trained to help you come to your own solutions. Whatever you share in therapy is protected by professional standards of confidentiality which have only a few exceptions defined by law.
How does psychotherapy work?
Psychotherapy is a process that allows you to explore difficult areas of your life. You can come to understand yourself more deeply, your moods and feelings, your reactions and your behavior patterns--how you have become the person you are. Beyond that, old wounds can be healed when you are empowered to be yourself and to express your feelings in the presence of an accepting witness. The combination of new insight and freedom of self-expression can alter how you see and experience the world. It can lead to increased spontaneity, vitality, connection in relationships and the ability to make new choices. Therapy works well when a trusting relationship develops between you and your therapist. This happens gradually, as you experience that your therapist is non-judgmental, reliable and able to support you. Trust grows when you can experience that your therapist is on your side, providing a safe place for you individually or with your family or partner. A therapeutic relationship can promote healing, self-understanding and acceptance of self and others.
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