What is Counseling

(Borrowed from Psychotherapy Associates)

In counseling you and your therapist work out strategies for handling problems of daily living. Examples of problems which can be effectively addressed include depression, anxiety and panic, "flashbacks," guilt, low self-esteem, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, couple and family difficulties, and general interpersonal difficulties. Additionally, psychotherapy can lead to personal growth through clarification of your thoughts and feelings about yourself, others, and events in your life.

Techniques

Most of the time you spend in therapy will consist of talking about the issues you bring up with your therapist. In addition to discussion, other therapy tools may be used. These include psychological testing, homework assignments, relaxation training, communication skill training, assertiveness training, desensitization practice, role playing practice, guided imagery, and hypnosis.

Format

Treatment can involve individual, family, couple, or group formats depending upon the nature of the problem addressed. If it appears that psychoactive medication may be a useful addition to your therapy, your therapist will refer you to a physician or other medical professional for consultation.

Therapeutic Orientation

The specific form of your therapy will depend upon your therapist's specialty, theoretical orientation, and background. While some treatment approaches require examination of the impact of your childhood and past experiences, others emphasize the present. Some treatment approaches focus upon solving specific current day problems while others stress development of the insight needed to solve problems in the future. You may wish to discuss this topic with your therapist, so that you will know what to expect during treatment.