Making the Most of Psychotherapy: Patience
Psychotherapy is not a quick fix for mental health problems. Most people beginning psychotherapy have lived with mental health problems for a long time. It is unrealistic to expect changes to occur overnight. Patience is a key to reaping the full benefits of therapy.
Commitment
Successful treatment also requires a strong commitment on the part of the client to attend scheduled sessions and follow through with the treatment, just as treatment for a medical condition requires that you keep your doctor’s visits and follow prescriptions.
Tip: If your treatment involves cognitive behavioral therapy, try these iPhone eCBT apps designed to challenge negative thinking, track mood, and share results with others. |
Willingness to Try New Things
Psychotherapy often involves changing behaviors or outlooks that have become second-nature. Making these changes can be very difficult. In fact, psychotherapy can sometimes increase discomfort in the short-term as you work with your therapist to make changes or explore difficult topics. But by trying new strategies and exploring new perspectives—even if they are uncomfortable at first—you may find that you are better able to cope with problems.
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Rapport
The relationship between you and your therapist is crucial to successful treatment. As a client, you should feel comfortable sharing information with your therapist. Additionally, you should feel comfortable talking to your therapist about how the treatment is going. Here are some questions to consider when evaluating how therapy is progressing:
- Are the goals of the treatment clear?
- Do you feel that your therapist understands your experiences and is receptive your ideas and concerns?
- Is there mutual respect between yourself and your therapist?
- Are you happy with the progress that you have made? If not, have you and your therapist talked about how to change the direction of treatment?
Some clients think it will be easier to connect to a therapist who has a similar background or life experiences. At times clinics may try to meet specific requests but most often trained therapists are able to work effectively with people from a wide range of experiences, cultures, religions, and so forth. In fact, it can sometimes be helpful to get the perspective of someone with different experiences.
Just like with any other relationship, sometimes clients and therapists have difficulty connecting with each other. If you find that you are not happy with your relationship with your therapist, you should feel comfortable talking with her/him about it. If the relationship does not improve, you can try again with a new therapist.
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