What is therapy and how can it help me?

Therapy can help transform your life. Within the safety of a therapeutic relationship you can work through difficult thoughts and feelings to increase your self-awareness and gain new insights. From this new vantage point you will feel empowered and inspired to create the life you desire.

What is therapy and how can it help me?

Your mental health and emotional wellbeing can impact your day to day life and relationships. If you’ve experienced a change in your thoughts, mood or behavior that’s negatively impacting your daily life then therapy can help you. Your therapist will work with you to understand what’s causing these changes and help you address your concerns. There are different types of treatments depending on your therapist’s training and experience. For example, trauma informed therapists like myself are trained to provide evidence based treatments such as cognitive processing therapy while licensed marriage and family therapists specialize in addressing family systems issues. Therapy works best when you’re an active participant in the process. It’s important for you to feel connected and comfortable with your therapist so you can talk about your experiences openly and honestly. 

Aren’t all therapists the same?

Not all therapists provide the same services. Therapists have different types of training and credentials. For example, there are psychologists (PhD), social workers (LICSW), psychiatrists (MD), nurse practitioners (NP), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) and licensed mental health counselors (LMHC). MD’s and nurse practitioners are able to prescribe psychiatric medications in addition to providing counseling services. Licensed therapists provide psychotherapy services depending on their licensure and training. Trainees such as interns or post Doc fellows need to be supervised by an independently licensed provider in their field.

I’m a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Massachusetts (USA) and provide therapy services to clients who reside in MA. My focus is on exploring and understanding the impact of a person’s environment on their health and wellbeing. I consider my clients to be a collaborative partner in the therapy process. Together we’ll explore what factors might be contributing to challenges such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, relationship conflict among others and come up with a treatment plan that helps you meet your goals. Just like in the medical field, mental health providers have different specialties. Some therapists are general practitioners and others specialize in certain areas.

My specialty and training is in treating the effects of trauma and other adverse experiences. I have been providing mental health and wellness coaching services to both Veterans and civilians for the last 16 years in both private and public settings. I use a variety of treatment approaches such as mindfulness-based stress management, solutions-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other strength-based treatments.

For more info visit my Psychology Today profile.

Can’t I just talk to my friend or family?

You might feel ambivalent about starting therapy with someone you don’t know and prefer to talk to a friend or family member. Having close and supportive personal relationships is an important aspect of living a healthy life. However, there are several differences between seeing a therapist and talking to a friend or family member. Therapists are trained to provide evidence informed treatments that can assist you in managing conditions such as depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Licensed therapists are required to adhere to ethical codes of conduct in order to maintain good standing with their professional licensing board. They are bound to confidentiality and won’t share your personal information without your permission. There are some limits to confidentiality, however. If there’s concern regarding safety of yourself or others then that would need to be reported to prevent harm to self or others.Therapy is a process that can help you heal as you work on understanding how your life experiences have impacted you - in both positive and negative ways.

Therapy helps you get to know yourself better and learn what’s within your control so you can create daily habits to improve your life. It can be challenging for a loved one to remain objective when providing guidance or advice. Therapists are trained to maintain objectivity and adhere to codes of conduct. Therapists maintain healthy and safe boundaries for their clients and themselves. Within this emotionally and physically safe relationship you can work on recovery and healing. 

How can I find the right therapist for me?

You can start by asking your primary care provider for a referral. Some doctors now have behavioral health services in their practices. That mental health provider will usually provide an initial assessment and short-term interventions to assist you. If ongoing therapy is recommended they can help you find a longer term provider to work with.Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) precautions from the Department of Public Health, many therapists are now providing therapy using Telehealth technologies.

For more information about Telehealth (Teletherapy) you can visit the helpful guide created by Interface Referral Service. This service can also help identify the right therapist to meet your needs.

Many therapists offer an initial complimentary consultation, which is a good time to ask questions to see if they are the right fit for you.

Here are some questions you can ask and other considerations:

• What is their professional background, training and experience?

• What age group do they work with?

• Do they provide individual, couples or family therapy?

• Do they offer group therapy? 

• Do they have availability that works with your schedule?

• Are they flexible? 

• Do they take your insurance (if you plan to use insurance)?

• What type of treatment do they provide?

• How much experience do they have in this area? 

• Are they responsive to your needs? 

• Do you feel comfortable meeting with them?

• Do you feel connected and that there’s some rapport?

For the last 16 years I’ve helped individuals and couples adjust to major life changes such as divorce, illness, loss, deployments and other sources of stress. I have 8 years of experience in online teaching and coaching. I'm currently providing online therapy and accept Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for MA residents in the USA. I also offer stress management, mindfulness and self-care coaching sessions and workshops. 

Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute teletherapy consultation to try it out. I’m happy to answer any questions that you have. My availability is after 4:30 pm Monday-Thursday and Saturdays between 9-2 pm. I look forward to connecting with you!