Mental Health Series – Understanding the Therapy Experience

May is Mental Health Month Awareness Month. In recognition of this, the EAP is offering a series of posts about mental health resources and options for help. This week, we discuss what to expect in the therapy.

There are many ways in which people address stress or mental health issues. Sometimes people can cope on their own via engaging in wellness , healthy lifestyle, or self-help activities. Other times it’s beneficial to seek professional assistance or more structured guidance. Each person’s situation and needs are unique and provider styles/relationship and treatment methods will vary. There are some common baseline components, outlined below.

Yohanna Okoli, LMHC, EAP Consultant at MGB is featured in this video to help you to be prepared for therapy.

Identify some goals for treatment in advance

It’s helpful to think about why you are seeking help and what you hope to accomplish (i.e., cope better, address anxiety, resolve a family issue). This will inform the treatment and process and keep the work on track. You can always make modifications as therapy progresses.

Consider the first few sessions as an introduction to and blueprint for your treatment

• You and the provider will be getting to know each other during the initial meeting(s)
• The provider will probably do an evaluation and ask questions to better understand your need
• This is an opportunity for you to ask about how the provider works and what you can expect from treatment, including:
  -Type of interventions which might benefit you
  -Costs and co-pays
  -Meeting times and frequency
• You should discuss goals for treatment
• This is the time to get a sense of the therapist’s style -some may be more interactive than others
• Forms and questionnaires may be utilized

Learn about the confines of confidentiality in therapy

In general, what happens in your sessions is confidential. By law, your provider may not share that you are participating in treatment, or what you discuss in your treatment. Some exceptions include cases of potential harm to self or others, written consent or necessary payer communication. The APA defines confidentiality and limitations for psychologists, which are generally the same for all licensed providers.

Be a partner in your treatment

In therapy, patients and providers have a collaborative relationship. Whether you are in therapy or seeking help in another area of the medical system, better outcomes are likely if you participate actively in your care. You are the #1 expert on you. Being a good partner in treatment, means being open and honest to the extent your comfort level allows.

Be patient – the process takes time

• As is the case with all relationships, it may take a little time to know if you and your provider are a good match
• You may not see improvement right away
• Sometimes the work can be challenging and even make you feel worse for a period.
  -This is because therapy can often release feelings and reactions that you have worked to keep dormant
• Consider that it may be more helpful to you to let these feelings out in a controlled setting with a professional to provide support
• It’s perfectly acceptable and important to communicate with your provider about how you think the process is going and suggest ideas for improvement