“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination”
Psychotherapy can be one of the most effective and life-enhancing experiences. Unfortunately, there are a number of myths floating about in society about what the therapy process entails and what kind of people benefit from such a process. I can unequivocally state that therapy can profoundly benefit any and every human being.
Psychotherapy enables people to live happier, healthier, and more productive lives. There are a number of approaches to therapy, including cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, interpersonal, transpersonal, gestalt, etc. My approach is eclectic; I am trained in a wide range of approaches and pick interventions from whichever approach best fits a client's particular needs.
The difference between counseling and psychotherapy is that counseling is typically sought out for a more short-term problem, whereas psychotherapy helps with more longstanding patterns that typically have roots in the past. Since most people have a relatively unexamined subconscious mind, many seemingly superficial problems can have deeper roots. But have no fear, even though painful material can surface, it comes up at your own pace and is dealt with in a safe, supportive environment where it can be transformed.
Holistic psychotherapy views the person as a whole - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, creatively, socially - and also looks at the interaction of all these influences in dealing with an individual. Basically, it accounts for the unique situation of a person without categorizing him/her or trying to fix "thoughts and emotions" out of the context of the 'whole'. The holistic approach also takes a broader perspective of life and the subconscious, wherein we attract certain life circumstances for a reason and if there's a situation or problem knocking on one's door right now, it is vital and meaningful to understand the unique significance of the problem to that individual.
Anything can bring one into therapy. Sometimes people are apprehensive to try the therapy process for a number of reasons. Some people are uncomfortable because of the novelty of the experience, others are afraid of appearing weak or flawed. This fear is unfounded because every human being struggles; and even those who seem to have it all together are being controlled by unconscious motivations, so having the courage to know oneself better always puts one in a better position than those who don't make that effort. Some people have apprehensions about a therapist "telling them what to do". However, any good psychotherapist is not there to impose their values or opinions on to you. The goal is to help you clarify for yourself what's important, uncover your own mental blocks and support you in an empowering journey to lead a more fulfilling life. The benefits of psychotherapy are innumerable and extremely rewarding.
