A therapist doesn’t solve your problems for you. Rather, he or she helps you clarify issues so you can solve problems on your own with a therapist’s guidance, support, and expertise. The goal of therapy is to make you more self-sufficient, not more dependent.
There are many approaches to therapy and various formats in which it may occur–including individual, group, and couples. Despite the variations, all therapy is a two-way process that works especially well when you and the therapist communicate openly. Research shows that the outcome of therapy is improved when the therapist and the client agree early about what the major problems are and how therapy can help.
You and the therapist both have responsibilities in establishing and maintaining a good working relationship. Be clear with your therapist about your concerns that may arise. Therapy works best when you attend all scheduled sessions and give some forethought as to what you want to discuss during each session.
Therapy isn’t easy. But individuals willing to work in close partnership with their counselor or psychologist often find relief from their emotional distress and begin to lead more productive and fulfilling lives.
When you first describe EMDR, it sounds a lot like traditional therapy: you talk through painful memories and learn how to live your life despite the sting of the past trauma. I will use “dual attention stimulation” or “bilateral stimulation” through either visual or auditory cues. The goal is to help you access your memories without being consumed by them.
There are a couple hypotheses for why EMDR works:
The rhythmic, left-right movement is relaxing. This helps you calm down while discussing difficult memories.
It imitates REM sleep. This helps the left and right hemispheres of your brain better communicate.
It stimulates parts of your brain designed to enhance information processing. This helps you analyze your memories.
Dual attention stimulation initiates the “orienting response.” This helps you pay attention to novel stimuli — meaning you can focus on your present surroundings and your past.
Couples will complete intake packets separately and then attend session together. After the initial session each partner may attend one session alone, before coming back together to make a plan of action during a fourth session. From there the couple and the therapist will work together to resolve past hurts, develop conflict resolution strategies, and improve communication skills.
John Gottman is the leading researcher on couples and marriage counseling. I primarily use his approach, tools, and tactics to help my couples heal and build their relationships.
According to a research summary from the Stanford University School of Medicine, therapy effectively decreased peoples’ depression and anxiety related symptoms–such as pain, fatigue, and nausea. Therapy has also been found to increase survival time after heart surgery, for people with cancer, and it can have positive effects on the body’s immune system. Research increasingly supports the idea that emotional and physical health are closely linked and that therapy can improve a person’s overall health status.
There is convincing evidence that most people who have at least several sessions of therapy are better off than untreated individuals, who are having emotional difficulties.
Basically, whatever you say in therapy, stays in therapy. However, there are times when a therapist is legally obligated to break confidentiality:
Harm to self or others. If a therapist believes that you are in imminent danger of hurting yourself or someone else, a family member, police or ambulance will be called to ensure safety.
A child under the age of 16 or older adult in care is in danger. In these cases Family and Children’s Services or the police will be called.
Your files are subpoenaed by the court or by the College of Registered Psychotherapists.
A client experienced a health emergency during a session. In this case, medical staff would be provided only with necessary information. No information about why a client is in therapy will be shared.
Some therapists (myself included) carry confidentiality into the community. I inform clients that if I see them in the community I will not say hello. I don’t want to put anyone in a situation where they have to explain how they know me. I am always open to speaking to clients outside of the office, but they get to make first contact.
On May 16, 2019, Colorado lowered the age of consent for outpatient psychotherapy services from 15 years to 12 years old. This new law is intended to help minors who are hesitant to discuss their mental health with parents or legal guardians to obtain outpatient psychotherapy services before they reach a crisis level.
After we agree on a time I will send you a link to complete paperwork, this will include a variety of questionnaires and assessments. Everything is completed on-line on a HIPPA compliant site. This allows us to use the first appointment getting comfortable together and filling in the little pieces of your intake.
My office hours are Sunday through Wednesday, and availability of time slots depends on current openings.