Individual therapy is a joint process between a therapist and a person in therapy. Therapists are trained professionals who:
- Provide support
- Maintain confidentiality
- Provide assistance with working through painful or embarrassing issues
- Assist people with issues that are hard to face alone
- Help people make lifestyle changes
- Assist with identifying underlying causes of symptoms
- Provide strategies for changing unwanted thoughts and behaviors
- Equip people with the skills to manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life
Most people find they enjoy the therapeutic journey of becoming more self-aware. Some people even go to ongoing therapy for self-growth.
It could be time to seek therapy if an issue causes distress or interferes with daily life. Distress can mean negative thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or even a bodily sensation such as pain or fatigue. It is important not to wait until symptoms become severe before going to therapy. It may be best to seek therapy if you are often unhappy or feel overwhelmed and hopeless about issues in your life. Therapy can also help if you cannot focus on work or school, experience addiction, or feel like hurting yourself or someone else (Please see below, “Issues Addressed” by Freedom Mental Health Services).
Initial psychiatric evaluation will take 90 minutes. Thereafter, sessions range from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your particular situation and therapist’s recommendation.