Success in Therapy

Whether you are receiving individual therapy, couples/marital therapy or family therapy, you are more likely to succeed if you prepare your mind for the experience and approach it positively. Clients receiving couples counseling from me will get the following orientation.

For couples counseling to succeed, you must:

– BE COMPLETELY WILLING TO PRESERVE THE MARRIAGE/RELATIONSHIP

– BE COMMITTED TO THE THERAPY PROCESS

– BE CLEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM(S), THE PURPOSE OF THERAPY AND ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH

– TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SHARE OF THE PROBLEM(S)

– BE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS

– BE WILLING TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATED PROBLEM(S)

– BE WILLING TO PUT IN THE EFFORT BETWEEN SESSIONS

There are people who claim that therapy has not worked for them, or else they are skeptical about it in general. In some cases it is true that the therapy did not work out as hoped. And in some cases cars do not work and child-rearing does not work. So, do we stop using cars and get rid of the nuclear family? Failure in therapy will happen, as failure occurs in nearly every other human endeavor. In therapy failure can happen due to any number of reasons, for which the client or the therapist – or both – may be responsible. Or, it may be that the timing is not right.

If you are considering receiving counseling, coaching or therapy, ask yourself a few questions such as the following.

– Do I know why I am reaching out to the therapist? Can I verbalize the problem?

– Am I ready to be honest with the counselor, with myself and with others who might be part of the process?

– On a scale from 0 – 10, how strongly do I believe that this will go well?

– When the therapy is completed, what do I hope will be better?

– How do I view this process of counseling/therapy? Is it about personal growth? Healing painful emotions and memories? Getting unstuck? Wanting to feel better? Learning to resolve conflict and be a better communicator?

– Am I willing to put in the time and effort required to make some changes in my behavior, thinking or attitude?

Answering these questions to the best of your ability will help you feel prepared and confident in reaching out to a therapist.. In addition your therapist/counselor will greatly appreciate your efforts. That alone will increase your chances for a successful outcome.

Wishing you all the best in the event that you choose to get help from a therapist, counselor or coach … and thanks for reading!