An Overview of Therapy: What is it? How long does it take? Who benefits? What kinds are there?

What is Therapy?

Therapy is a process an individual engages in with one or more other individuals with the goal of personal growth that often includes working through emotional, psychological, and/or spiritual challenges. The focus of therapy can be varied and is typically determined by you with a therapist’s guidance based on what issues are causing you the most distress. Depending on your needs, the therapist may recommend different approaches to help you reach your therapeutic goals. 

The therapeutic process is entirely different based on the methods being used, your individual needs, the therapist’s personal style, and the therapeutic relationship created by you and your therapist. That being said, therapy can address a wide range of concerns, including stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship problems, self-esteem issues, and more.

Throughout the therapeutic process, individuals learn coping skills, emotional regulation techniques, and gain insights into their beliefs and patterns of behavior. By fostering self-awareness and personal growth, therapy empowers individuals to make positive changes, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and build stronger relationships, ultimately enhancing their overall quality of life.

How long does it take?

Therapeutic work can last as long or as short as you want. Some may find, as they heal and grow, that there is more work they want to do. These individuals may find themselves participating in one or another therapeutic process for months, years, or even a lifetime. Others may discover that a short-term process is best for them. These individuals may find that support is needed for a short period of time when facing unique challenges or wanting to increase personal growth. There is no right way to do therapy and no right time to begin or end therapy. It is completely up to you. 

Who benefits from Therapy?

Anyone can benefit from therapy, no matter your age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or ability. You do not need a special or compelling reason to participate in therapy. You also may have one. Either way is fine. We are all individuals with unique and common life challenges. If you have a desire to grow in some way, to overcome challenges, to be supported by a professional, or any other reason, therapy might be good for you. 

At the same time, it can be important to assess what you are looking for and find a therapeutic relationship and method that is aligned with your goals. If your goals are unclear, a therapist can help you get more clear on what you are looking for. 

In my training to become a therapist, one thing we talked about a lot was the therapeutic relationship. This is the relationship created between the client and therapist. It is often regarded as one of the most important factors that creates success for clients. Here is some more information if you are curious about what the American Psychological Association has to say about this. 

If you don’t want to read another article, the takeaway is that it is important to make sure you feel comfortable with your therapist. This could mean interviewing a few different therapists until you find someone you feel is a good fit. The therapists you meet with can also help you determine if the fit is right for you and, if it’s not, help direct you to other options that might be a better fit. 

What kinds of Therapy are there?

I don’t know, maybe hundreds? Truly, there are so many approaches that can be used! While the approach has been found to be secondary to the therapeutic relationship, it’s still important to consider. 

Some types of therapy are going to be more cognitive, working with your thoughts first with the goal of modifying the way you think, behave and feel about certain situations/experiences. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and many more. Other types of therapy are more body and sensation-based. These types of therapies work with the sensations in the body to help you explore what you are thinking and feeling. Examples of these would be Somatic Therapies and Dance Therapy.

Other types of therapies may use a combination of the two types above. For example, Hypnotherapy will often work with sensations, emotions, and thoughts. This helps you to see how an experience is impacting you on several different levels. It can take some experimenting to find the therapeutic experience that is right for you at a particular point in your life. Please don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with me to learn more!