Getting Started - Q&A

Q: What is psychotherapy?
A.: Psychotherapy is a process that centers on the relationship that is formed between a psychotherapist and a client. Its purpose is to help the client grow and mature emotionally. Many of the issues that are brought up as reasons to start treatment may be rooted in early fears or false beliefs that are based on early life experiences. As a result of these early experiences, clients have developed an internal relational world that has caused her/him to interact in a dysfunctional way with others. The role of the therapist is to assist the client achieve growth and emotional maturity which may allow her/him to experience those early fears and beliefs differently. As a result, clients approach issues in their lives with alternative attitudes which bring about more satisfying results.

Q: Who needs to seek psychotherapy?
A: Individuals seek psychotherapy for various reasons. Some individuals initiate treatment due to desperate conditions in their lives such as the death of a loved relative, divorce, inability to form intimate relationships, etc. There are other clients who feel a need to expand their emotionally awareness by using psychotherapy as a vehicle for growth. Some clients call and say that they are asked by a significant person in their lives to seek treatment in order to avoid losing that person.

Q: How long does psychotherapy last?
A: The length of time that psychotherapy lasts depends on a number of factors:

1. The level of motivation for change
2. The nature of the reason to start treatment
3. The depth of exploration to which the client is willing to engage.
4. The ability and experience of the psychotherapist.

In my experience productive psychotherapy on average lasts between 18 months and 3 years. There are, however, situations when the goal of treatment is very specific and requires a relatively short duration of a few months. Examples of short term psychotherapy are work-related issues, Financial stressors, difficult decisions that need to be made by couples, etc.

Q: What is the difference between individual therapy and group therapy? How do you determine who needs what?
A: In individual therapy the focus is on understanding of past events and relationships as they affect present life situations. Group psychotherapy provides opportunities for clients to experience relationships in the here-and-now. Instant feedback from fellow group members increases self-awareness and potential for change. Usually clients who seek therapy begin with individual therapy because it is easier to relate to one person at the early stages of the treatment. Adding group therapy at a later stage of the treatment may be advisable for clients who experience particular difficulties in social situations. In some cases clients maintain group therapy as the primary mode of treatment.