Therapy or counseling refers to techniques that can assist individuals (or families) in changing behaviors, thoughts or emotions that cause disruption or distress in our lives. Therapy can help alleviate difficulties in dealing with loss, stress management, working through trauma and coping with symptoms related to specific mental health conditions and research confirms the efficacy of therapy in reducing depression, anxiety, eating disorders and those struggling with addiction. However, we don’t need to have a clinical diagnosis to benefit from therapy! Anyone can benefit! If stressors are interfering with your daily activities, it may be time to see a therapist! Anyone who was affected by the Christmas Parade Tragedy is eligible to be connected with a therapist through the United for Waukesha Resiliency Center.
Once we are referred to or found a counselor, we might be interested in working with, the next step is to follow up with them to schedule a consultation. This initial visit or intake appointment is a time for you and your therapist to get to know one another and get an idea of how to proceed. Topics that will likely to be discussed include what symptoms are distressing, and what made you decide to come to therapy now. Some questions about your history, including childhood, relationships, and goals for treatment will surely be covered. In addition, confidentiality, office policies and general paperwork will be completed either before or during the first appointment. The therapist will use all of this information to develop a treatment plan that will help guide future sessions and can be updated if needs change.
Depending on your symptoms and goals, therapy can last for a few sessions or for several months or years, and a big part of successful therapy is feeling comfortable with your therapist, which may come over time. However, if after a few meetings, you’re just not clicking, you do have the choice to seek out another therapist. Don’t feel bad if you change therapists. Sometimes, for one reason or another, the therapist and client just don’t click. That is okay! It’s important to make sure you work with someone that you feel comfortable with, so you can get the most out of treatment. Another important component of successful treatment is the work that gets done in between sessions! Implementing new skills, behaviors, or routines into your life in between sessions is critical to getting the most out of your therapy!
Now that you know what therapy is and what to expect, how about giving a Service Navigator with the United for Waukesha Resiliency Center a call and congratulate yourself for taking the first big step toward your treatment journey.