Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the specific problems a person brings forward. There are many methods that may be used to to deal with problems a person hopes to address. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on the individual’s part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, the psychologist and client must work on problems both during sessions and the client will continue the work at home.

Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress.

The first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, some first impressions and a treatment plan will be explained, if you decide to continue with therapy. This information, along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable with working with the therapist should be considered. Therapy invloves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so a person should be very careful about the therapist he or she selects. If you have questions about your therapy, they should be discussed whenever they arise.