What is Psychotherapy?
In therapy, individuals learn about how thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected. They learn how their own thoughts are holding them back and getting the in the way of them feeling better. By gaining a better understanding of problematic thoughts, and developing more effective skills to help them change their thinking, individuals will develop more control over how they feel.
While the individual is learning how to change their thought patterns, they will also be learning how to better respond to challenging situations with healthier coping skills. Due to a variety of circumstances, sometimes we loose our ability to cope with stressors effectively and we become overwhelmed. In an effort to cope, we can turn to unhelpful behaviors that do not always serve us well and sometimes can lead to negative outcomes.
During the course of therapy, the individual will need to take an active approach in their own recovery process. For therapy to be the most successful, the individual needs to take what is taught in session and apply it to their own life. In order to do this the individual will need to work on things talked about in session and out of session. It is this active approach that allows for the individual to take what is learned and apply it. Therapy is a joint partnership where both parties work together. Therapy will not be effective if only the therapist is doing the work.
There are many different types of therapy, each with its own approach to treatment. The type of therapy that’s right for you will depend on your own unique individual needs. Therapy is not a quick fix, it takes time and effort. As a result, it may move slower than you might expect, however, the benefits of what therapy has to offer are worth it. Each person is different, with their own life experiences (past and present). It is this uniqueness that makes us complex like a puzzle. Sometimes it can take time putting all the pieces together.
"Be gentle with yourself, you’re doing the best you can. Nothing takes more courage than pulling yourself back together again."
-Patricia Kehren, LPC, LMHC, LPCC-
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 or go to your nearest local emergency room. You can also call for Crisis Support at Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or call "988." Lifeline will connect you with your local crisis support center automatically nation wide. If you live in Allegheny County, you can utilize Resolve Crisis at 1-888-796-8226, which offers phone support and mobile crisis teams as needed.
Website: https://hopefulfutures.clinic
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