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Psychotherapy (therapy) is a collaborative process designed to facilitate open and honest communication in order to help someone deal effectively with, and work through, their emotional and behavioral struggles. The professional relationship that develops between you and your therapist is one based on mutual respect, genuine engagement, and clear boundaries. It is within this safe relationship that a therapist earns trust, encourages openness, and helps clients develop the necessary insight and coping strategies to relieve their suffering. There are no guarantees, but most people who engage in this process find it enormously illuminating and helpful in their daily lives.
Therapy is a difficult but immensely rewarding and effective treatment for emotional turmoil. Most people suffer mightily before they ever consider consulting a professional for counseling or psychotherapy. Emotional suffering takes its toll on you psychologically (e.g., affecting your relationships, concentration, attention, feelings) and physically (e.g, energy level, sleep, appetite, sex drive, and general motivation). We suffer for many reasons, not all of which are we consciously aware. Your symptoms and patterns of relationships are typically the result of older patterns of coping and relating that might have been very adaptive when younger, but have long-since outworn their usefulness.
Psychotherapy requires that you are motivated to at least begin the process. Together, you and your therapist find a way to work together that is respectful, safe, confidential, and effective. My training and philosophy toward the work emphasizes treating the whole person--not just symptoms.
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