By Lisa M. Pim, M.A. Registered Psychotherapist, Director of Clinical Care – Veterans House
As a Registered Psychotherapist ten years into the work, I have noticed that there is a lot of misinformation about the role of quality Psychotherapy and what that looks like. I am writing this to try and provide more clarity into what good therapy looks like, and how it could help.
Psychotherapy is a unique relationship built and based on trust and confidentiality between the client and the therapist with the sole aim of improving the client’s life, based on the client’s individual needs and wishes. For some who have experienced basic counselling, social work, or talking with a good friend while this is helpful, Psychotherapy differs in some very key ways. I am hoping the following list helps explain this.
Good Psychotherapy involves having:
- An appropriately trained and licensed Psychotherapist.
- A therapist that presents as competent and experienced with your issues.
- A therapist that explains the process of therapy and how you can benefit from it.
- The focus needs to be on you, the therapist keeps the focus on you and your needs.
- Any diagnosis is only part of therapy – all your needs are taken into consideration.
- If the modality or approach is not working, they are open to shifting gears and refocusing.
- You feel as though your information is kept confidential and safe.
- Techniques and approaches are explained, and you have awareness and feel “in control” in the sessions and within treatment.
- You feel as though you can communicate with the therapist honestly.
- You feel as though you are gaining insight and knowledge from the sessions.
- You are supported when working through your vulnerable feelings or memories in a way that you do not have re-traumatization. The therapist does not push you to go too far, or avoid talking about areas which are of importance to you.
- Fees, insurance information, privacy information and any other questions are answered prior to starting therapy.
- You feel as though it is your choice to undergo therapy. They will support you with continuing treatment, discontinuing treatment, or referral to another therapist.
- You are setting goals within your work with a therapist and they give you concrete examples of goals and progress. These goals can be open to change.
- You feel connected and respected by the therapist, and you feel as though they believe in you and the goals you set for your life.
- Conversations seem natural and comfortable, not forced.
- Your therapist can balance root causes of distress as well as symptoms and day to day distress.
- It should be clear that your therapist’s sole role is to help you, without talking excessively about themselves, or enlist your assistance with anything that is outside the purpose of helping you.
- If they make a mistake, they can receive this feedback from you and implement changes.
- You are treated as a “whole person” who is an equal human being, and they never make a negative judgment about you. You feel genuine care and concern from them, or “unconditional positive regard.”
- The therapist is respectful of your values, belief systems, and does not exhibit any agenda founded on their values or personal belief systems.
- They are sensitive to your culture and background.
- They empathize in an appropriate way where they are responsive emotionally to you.
How can you tell if treatment is working properly?
There are some signs and indicators that things are moving in the right direction. Such as:
- At some point you begin to feel better. You notice you are happier, calmer, more at ease, and more hopeful about the future.
- After some time, you should be able to resolve and face your issues and are not looking to have someone else fix them for you.
- The therapist helps you find insight within to guide you to your own best solutions so you can make the right choices for yourself.
- You notice therapy is giving you more connection to yourself and your emotions, and to other people in your life.
- You begin to see things differently, and your perspective shifts from that of finding problems to being able to find solutions.
- You find yourself making different choices and looking at your own needs more. You see choices you did not think you had before. You can set healthy boundaries with yourself and others.
- You smile more, and you feel more positive and future focused.
- Other people notice you are changing in a positive way.
I hope the above list is helpful and clarifies what Psychotherapy can do for you or someone you care about and how to get quality care. If you are a veteran, you may have coverage through Blue Cross Medavie, where you can obtain free supports. Other individuals may have coverage through their workplace programs, or with extended healthcare benefits which can cover costs.
In addition to one-on-one Psychotherapy I feel strongly that peer support is of great help. I recommend peer support, of some form, to every client I work with. I will be writing more about peer support in my next blog entry.
