Written by Dr. Joanna Love, Licensed Psychologist
What is therapy?
You’re reading this because you are seeking healing for yourself or someone you love, and you think therapy could be a source of that healing. Whether you have been thinking about therapy for a while or are just considering it for the first time, seeking information – reading this post – is an important step on your healing journey.
However, as you may already have found, some of the language and ideas connected to therapy can be overwhelming and confusing. The goal of this post is to demystify the therapy experience, and equip you with some basic information to move forward.
There are many ways to experience healing. Why therapy?
It’s true: there are a range of things that can contribute to positive growth and healing in your life.
For example, the mind and body are connected, so taking care of your body is one way to feel better inside and out. Physical movement is great for stress reduction. A healthy diet helps your body to function better.
Spiritual approaches have helped people for millennia. You may find healing through faith, prayer, beauty, nature, and music.
Living a balanced life, caring for your mind, body, and spirit, and paying attention to your whole self can both heal and maintain health. However, it is very common to need additional support from outside yourself to achieve the full health you are seeking. Research has taught us that going to therapy can be a strong source of healing for most people.
What’s the difference between therapy and counseling?
Therapy, psychotherapy, and counseling are different words that generally mean the same thing. That said, there are many different types of therapy.
A few examples:
Psychodynamic therapy uses techniques focused more on understanding emotions and gaining insight into yourself
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) tends to focus on understanding thoughts and belief that affect feelings, and changing behaviors through action-oriented strategies
Other approaches focus on your context within a family or community, cultural influences, or existential concepts like identity and purpose
Your therapist may lean toward a specific school of thought, area of research, or focus. Therapists may also integrate multiple techniques and approaches in their work, depending on your specific needs.
These differences can sometimes be explained by the type of training your therapist received. Your therapist may have a masters degree in counseling, clinical social work, or a doctoral degree in psychology. All therapists are licensed by the state to provide mental health services.
Why does therapy work?
Therapy is more than a list of strategies and helpful recommendations. Therapy works because it is based in a relationship. Relationship is a powerful context for healing that can’t be found through something like a self-help book, or an individual practice like meditation.
However, therapy is unlike any other relationship that you may experience, because it is at once intimate while also being transactional. It is intimate because your therapist keeps your true thoughts safe, and creates space that contains your deeper feelings. But it is transactional, because you pay a fee for a service that your therapist provides.
The unique attributes of the therapist + client relationship are why therapy is successful for many people.
You’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.
There is nothing wrong with seeking help through therapy. In the same way someone may work with a personal trainer, physical therapist, or doctor to improve their physical health, seeking therapy is an investment in your personal wellness.
Many human experiences can feel crazy. Things like panic attacks or flashbacks to traumatic events might make you feel crazy; as if you’re going out of your mind or leaving your body. Unwanted thoughts that keep popping into your mind or behaviors you feel you can’t control might seem to make no sense. Some people feel sad or anxious for so long, it starts to feel as if it is part of who they are.
Regardless of the nature of your struggle, there is good news: Our behaviors and feelings can be explained, and healing is possible. There is always hope for healing. Therapy can help.