Four Common Questions About Therapy
How do I know if I should go to therapy?
There is a strong belief that people should only go to therapy if they have experienced a significant trauma. What does that mean?
Some identify trauma as those who have experienced horrific experiences in their life, such as sexual assault, a natural disaster, physical and emotional abuse, or death of a loved one. So… what do we label those times when your mother would constantly pick on you about your weight and skin, when you struggled with reading out loud in school, or when your sibling would make fun of you with their friends? This is also considered a type of trauma. We like to differentiate these as "Big T" and "Little T" traumas.
"Big T" trauma is a term used to refer to life-threatening, catastrophic, or intensely distressing events, such as natural disasters, accidents, violence, or abuse. "Little T" trauma is a term used to refer to more personal, non-life-threatening, or prolonged events that can have a negative impact on a person's emotional or psychological functioning. Regardless, both types of traumas can cause severe emotional distress and can lead to long-term psychological and behavioral issues. People who have experienced trauma often feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with the intensity of the experience. They may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intense fear and anxiety. These traumas can have a damaging effect on a person's self-esteem, self-worth, and overall sense of safety.
What it comes down to is: there is no specific checklist that needs to be met to receive therapy. What is important to know for yourself is whether you are experiencing distress, struggling with transitions, or needing some additional support at this time in your life. We encourage you to find a therapist who provides a free consultation to see if they are the right fit for you.
Do I have to talk about the past?
Often times, what prevents many people from making the initial call is having anxiety and fear around past events and feeling they should talk about things they do want to or are not ready to talk about. At TeleTherapy Room, we believe in providing you a safe space to feel heard, validated and accepted. We strive to be respectful of where you want to go in your treatment. Although we cannot guarantee past events will not be discussed or come up at times, we can share that a competent therapist should help provide ease and comfort when discussing difficult topics.
As certified clinical trauma therapists, we understand that often times people are avoidant of past memories in hopes to not relive the feeling(s). It is vital that your therapist understand your current ability to manage difficult emotions. We know it is important that you not discuss, recall, or dive into past negative experiences without first learning how to calm and control your body and physical responses. Learning relaxation techniques are essential! Without it, this makes the journey more difficult for those seeking treatment.
Also, is not necessary to discuss past traumas in great detail in order to experience relief. Much of healing comes from the ability to regulate appropriately. Additionally, we can keep things moving forward if you want your treatment to stay future focused.
How long should I attend therapy?
Therapy services will typically begin with an initial consultation to ensure your needs can be met. If both parties decide to move forward, your therapist will complete an intake assessment to gather present concerns and history. The second session should focus on specific treatment goals.
By having an effective treatment plan in place, your therapist should be able to outline how long you can expect to attend therapy. For some individuals, shorter term treatment is appropriate and lasts about 3-6 months, but others may need longer term treatment that can last up to a year or longer.
If you feel your therapist is not collaborative with treatment goals or you do not feel understood, discuss it with your therapist. At TeleTherapy Room, we encourage you to be transparent with us regarding your questions and concerns.
What if I don’t like my therapist?
If you do not feel we are the right fit for you, no worries! We value you finding the right therapist and can help guide you to find what you are looking for.
Here are some steps you can take:
Communicate: Talk to your therapist about how you feel. They work for you and are here to make sure you are getting the support you need. Try to be specific and provide examples as this can help your therapist understand what is working and not working.
Explore other options: Most therapist have training in different approaches to treatment so perhaps the current approach is not jiving with you. If you're open to it, talk to your therapist about this and see if you can shift gears.
Request referrals: We can locate some resources for you if we are not the right fit. Don't give up! Remember that finding the right therapist can take time, and it's not uncommon to go through a few therapists before finding the one that's the right fit for you. There is a therapist out there who can help you, and it's worth the effort to find them.
At the end of the day, all that matters is your mental health. Give us a free 15-minute consultation to see if we can assist in this process.
