“About” Therapy

PSYPACT

The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) is an interstate compact designed to facilitate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychology across state boundaries.

Thanks to PSYPACT, I am accepting clients from the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

When is a good time to seek therapy?

This question has no right or wrong answers. The “best time” to seek therapy depends on you and your needs. Folx traditionally seek therapy when a specific issue causes significant distress or impacts their daily functioning. Distress could be categorized as persistent negative thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or negative physical sensations such as pain or fatigue.

If you experience frequent or constant feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, feeling overwhelmed, and sadness about your situation, it might be a good time for you to seek therapy. Also, if you notice a decline in your scholastic or work performance, experience urges to harm yourself or others, or notice an increase in substance use, it may be time to seek therapy.

What to expect during individual therapy?

The first session of individual therapy often focuses on information gathering. In our first session, we’ll discuss your past physical, mental, and emotional health. We’ll also explore the concerns bringing you to therapy. This process may take a few sessions for the therapist to have a good understanding of the situation. Only then can we address concerns and determine the best course of action 

You, as the person in therapy, can also use the first session to decide if the therapist’s style is a good fit for your needs. Finding a therapist you are comfortable with is essential to effective treatment. It is important to talk about the type of therapy to be used, treatment goals, session length, and how many sessions are needed. Many therapists encourage people in treatment to do most of the talking. At first, it may be hard to talk about past experiences or current concerns. Sessions may stir up intense emotions. It is possible to become upset, angry, or sad during treatment. However, therapists can help people build confidence and become more comfortable as the sessions progress.

Therapists might assign “homework” to help the people in their care build on topics discussed in therapy. Individuals in treatment can also ask questions at any point in the process. As time passes, people in therapy may develop a more positive mood and healthier thinking patterns 

People in treatment can expect confidentiality during therapy sessions. However, a therapist may break confidentiality if someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others. Therapists may also do this if required by federal or state law. The limits of confidentiality and written guidelines will be provided during the first therapy session.

How Psychotherapy Works?

There are many forms of therapy. Some types of treatment work better than others when handling different issues. It is common for therapists to combine ideas from different approaches when addressing a person’s needs. Some of the therapy modalities used at PR Psychological Services include, but are not limited to:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most popular and effective types of therapy. This approach helps people look at the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Then, people can replace negative thinking patterns with positive ones. The belief behind CBT is that healthy thoughts often promote positive feelings and productive actions.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Can help people cope with stress, improve emotional regulation, and work on relationships. It includes 4 basic concepts: 1.) Mindfulness: the practice of being fully aware and present in this one moment, 2.) Distress Tolerance: how to tolerate pain in difficult situations, not change it, 3.) Interpersonal Effectiveness: how to ask for what you want and say no while maintaining self-respect and relationships with others and Emotion Regulation: how to change emotions that you want to change. The term “dialectical” means a synthesis or integration of opposites. The primary dialectic within DBT is between the seemingly opposite strategies of acceptance and change. For example, DBT therapists accept clients as they are while also acknowledging that they need to change to reach their goals. In addition, all the skills and strategies taught in DBT are balanced in terms of acceptance and change. For example, the four skills modules include two sets of acceptance-oriented skills (mindfulness and distress tolerance) and two sets of change-oriented skills (emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness).

Effectiveness of Individual Therapy:

Even if therapy cannot cure a condition, it can help people develop healthy coping skills. The determination to be active in therapy and heal is essential for meeting therapeutic goals and fostering a positive therapeutic relationship. Finding the right therapist is also crucial to the treatment process.

Research shows that therapy may result in fewer relapses of common conditions, including moderate depression and anxiety. Furthermore, it indicates that the positive effects of good therapy extend beyond treatment. Many people report improved conditions long after therapy has ended. Therapy is often more effective than psychotropic medication or medical treatments alone. When used on their own, those treatments may cause harmful side effects. Many therapeutic approaches are also evidence-based. This means they have been subject to research studies and clinical observations to test their effectiveness.

Finding a therapist that you are comfortable with and cooperating with them can help you get the most out of treatment. When a person in therapy is open and honest, therapists generally are better able to address each issue and adjust the treatment approach as needed. Going to therapy might feel difficult on some days. But it is important to attend each session and complete any homework assigned.