DALLAS PSYCHOTHERAPY CENTER |
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Dallas psychologist • individual psychotherapy • couples & marriage counseling • sexual issues • depression & anxiety • adults & adolescents |
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FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT DALLAS PSYCHOTHERAPY
Some of those surveyed were treated with both psychotherapy and medications such as antidepressants, etc., whereas others were treated with "talk" therapy alone. Interestingly, this second group reported just as much improvement as the medication only group. In addition, this study found that therapy which lasted more than six months was significantly more effective than shorter-term therapies. Clients whose treatments were limited by insurance company policies had worse outcomes than those who did not have such limitations. Statistics aside, nearly one hundred years of experiential evidence has been gathered regarding the efficacy of psychotherapy. Our Dallas therapists and many other mental health professionals have documented case after case in which mental and emotional distresses were successfully overcome, stubborn medical issues resolved and the general quality of life vastly improved. These statements are not as easy to prove through strictly statistical means, although much empirical research has been conducted that does support the efficacy of psychotherapy. (This is why more and more insurance companies are increasingly covering mental health treatment these days.) That said, although the majority of therapy clients report significant benefits from treatment, therapy is not for everyone. In the spirit of scientific investigation, the only way to genuinely evaluate the efficacy of therapy may simply be to keep an open mind, try a few sessions with our Dallas psychologists and see for yourself.
How long will I need to be in therapy? As psychological needs, wants and capacities vary between individuals, there is no easy answer to this question. In general, however, short-term therapy is typically best-suited to individuals who have very specific goals and needs, such as overcoming a certain phobia, adjusting to a recent career change or giving up unwanted habits such as smoking, overeating, etc. The duration of this Dallas psychotherapy tends to be anywhere from six weeks to a few months, during which the therapist may be relatively directive, often employing cognitive-behavioral techniques, working with the client to cultivate more conscious, goal-oriented patterns and behaviors.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy works well within the long-term context, encouraging the patient to explore many aspects of his or her personality, uprooting self-defeating beliefs and limiting behavioral patterns. Although it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of short- versus long-term psychotherapy, you need not make this decision yourself. In the first few sessions, the therapist will work with you to better understand your goals and basic personality structure and will suggest a plan of treatment.
Once again, there are no ready-made answers for this question, as individuals differ widely in their psychological wants and needs, financial resources and overall personality structures. Of the various treatment options, however, a common meeting format involves once or twice-weekly visits for 45-50 minute sessions. Although coming less frequently (some clients come every other week, for example) can still be effective, the regular weekly meeting schedule allows for a real momentum of change to be established, as well as fostering a more dynamic and intimate relationship between the therapist and client. With this in mind, some highly-motivated clients choose to come up to four or five times weekly, forming a deep alliance with the therapist so that even the earliest personality building blocks can be re-examined from a new, more intentional perspective. Contrary to many common misconceptions regarding the treatment process, psychotherapy includes hard work. Anyone who is able and willing to examine his or herself honestly and openly in the context of therapy will likely begin to see benefits of this personal work very early in the treatment process.
How can I measure my progress in therapy? The earliest signs of progress in therapy often manifest as increasing awareness of the various ways in which one is "stuck." Relatively early in treatment, one may likely begin to recognize self-defeating patterns or habits of thinking, feeling and behaving without necessarily being able to change them immediately. Later, after watching these habits at work and discussing with the therapist the causes and effects of these habits, the individual is able to make changes and let go of old patterns. As this self-actualization process deepens, one begins to feel more natural, spontaneous and at ease in all areas of life. Genuine emotions come more freely and relationships deepen. Old patterns of worrying and obsessing become much less disruptive.
Rather than being obstacles to the treatment process, these times of increased anxiety, frustration and confusion can propel the therapeutic process to higher levels of self-awareness and more satisfying life experiences. To make the most of such difficulties, however, the client should openly discuss these feelings with the therapist so that seeming treatment obstacles can be used adaptively to further the process.
What if I don't share the same belief system or life circumstances as my therapist? It is common for the therapy client to be concerned regarding significant differences in his or her background and that of the therapist. The client may feel, for instance, that he or she maintains a strong belief in religion, philosophy, etc., that is not shared by the therapist. Similarly, differences in age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and overall life stage, can cause the client to wonder how the therapist could possibly relate to him or her. A trained therapist, however, usually works with all kinds of individuals from widely varying backgrounds. The sharing of specific beliefs or circumstances is not nearly so important as an understanding of how those background factors directly and indirectly impact the happiness and satisfaction of the client. At the same time, the therapist strives to understand the unique "worldview" of each client, and is sensitive to the enormous influence of culture and related life factors and experiences.
What if I get too dependent upon, or attached to, my therapist? A common misconception regarding psychotherapy is the fear of losing one's independence and autonomy. This fear stems from the mistaken notion that the therapist somehow takes over the client, making important life decisions for him or her, telling him or her how to feel, and so on. Once again, the role of the therapist is more that of an expert consultant than it is an authoritative boss.
At the same time, it is common for the client to re-experience some early aspect of childhood parental relationships within the context of therapy. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, in particular, this process is extremely important and (to some degree) necessary in resolving early conflicts with parents and other authority figures. In this sense, to feel a deep sense of love and attachment to the therapist can be quite helpful. Building a sense of trust and emotional intimacy with the therapist helps the client feel safe to better understand and restructure old patterns.
What if I begin to have negative feelings toward my therapist? Negative feelings toward the therapist are common at times during treatment, and may even be essential to make certain types of positive changes. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, the client's early conflicts with his or her parents are emphasized and, to some degree, re-experienced with the therapist. For example, an individual with a distant father might interpret the therapist beginning the session a few minutes late one day as a personal rejection. Similarly, a client with an overly critical mother is likely to interpret certain therapist comments as harsh or judgmental. Both of these examples would likely result in the client feeling anger toward the therapist.
Such client feelings are neither "rude" nor unfair. Rather, as the client begins to feel negatively toward the therapist, he or she can examine the ways in which he or she attempts to avoid, ignore or displace these feelings. Recognizing the underlying patterns that were unknowingly adopted in childhood helps the client to understand them from a more mature perspective and make constructive, conscious changes.
What if I develop sexual feelings for my therapist? This is an extremely common client reaction to the therapy process. In many ways, the therapist is a kind of stunt double for the client's past and current relationships—romantic ones included. As such, as the client develops a close bond with the therapist, sexual or romantic feelings commonly arise. Much as is the case with negative feelings toward the therapist, the client's sexual feelings toward the therapist can be adaptively utilized to further the treatment process. The client should feel free to discuss such feelings openly, as the therapist realizes they are not to be taken "personally," but rather as a displacement of unresolved relationship issues. It should be emphasized that, although it is appropriate for a client to discuss his or her sexual feelings toward the therapist, the therapist should not indicate a reciprocation of such feelings in any way. In helping the client explore his or her sexual feelings within this safe context, the therapist provides a kind of relationship "laboratory" in which the client can observe, experiment with, and re-assess his or her unresolved interpersonal issues.
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