Prior to Therapy

The therapist may meet with you to talk about:

• The problems that are causing you to seek therapy
• The therapy methods that may work best for you
• How long and how often you may need therapy sessions

Description of Therapy

You will be asked questions about your background, family, mental health, and the problems you are having. It may take many sessions to find the best method to treat you.

You will be asked about your thoughts and feelings. You will talk about how you react when things happen to you. At first, you may not want to talk so much about yourself. Over time, you will see the benefits.

During your session, you may feel emotional. This is normal. After the session, you may feel tired.

What you talk about is private. There are only a few cases where the therapist must share information with the police such as:

• You are going to harm yourself or someone else
• You harmed another person such as a child, an elder adult, or someone with a disability

Psychotherapy can also be for you and:

• A spouse or partner
• Your family
• A group

How Long Will It Take?

You may have 1 session a week for about an hour. The number of sessions depends on the reason you are there. Short-term therapy may take a month. Some people may need to go for a year or longer.

It takes time and hard work before you start to feel better. Results differ for each person. Most people will see good changes after a few sessions.

Post-therapy Care

You will have homework. This is a way for you to work on the skills that you learned during the sessions.