What to expect from counseling and therapy in Ventura
Doing anything new takes courage, and reaching out for therapy is no exception. And for most, there are many reasons to avoid therapy or counseling altogether. Therapy involves sharing intimate details of your life with someone you don’t know, feeling uncomfortable emotions (we avoid them for a reason), and trusting that by doing so, things in your life will get better. But if you’re reading this, something is bothering you enough that you’re willing to push through the discomfort to reach out for support. And fortunately, many of the most common issues people seek therapy to help with are highly treatable.
If this is you, and you’ve decided to give therapy a try, great. So what now? What to expect from counseling and therapy in Ventura if you’re just getting started? Read my list below to feel prepared and hopefully have some of your questions answered.
Expect confidentiality
The only way therapy can be effective is if the relationship is totally confidential. The field of mental health is regulated by various ethical and legal boards that require that psychotherapy and counseling be confidential, the same way your doctor can’t share your personal information. There are a few exceptions to this for legal and ethical reasons, but for the majority of people, it’s your therapist’s job to keep what you talk about in confidence.
Expect to be treated with respect
While your therapist is a trained professional, you are the one who knows ultimately what’s best for you. A skilled therapist will support you in building a greater sense of trust in yourself. Although challenging limiting beliefs, or helping you consider blind spots, is a sign of good therapy, this should never chip away at your confidence in your own ability to make the best choices for you.
Expect results
If you’re meeting for weekly therapy in Ventura, you’re allowing your nervous system to relax, knowing that each week at the same time you can decompress, reflect, express feelings and thoughts, and get a new perspective on things that have been troubling you. This kind of intentional committment to personal growth with a safe, supportive, and skilled therapist should be producing benefits in your life in one way or another. It’s normal for things to feel worse initially, as exploring feelings and memories can be painful, but as you continue, you should be able to identify positive change in your life as a result of your participation in therapy.
Expect collaboration
The working relationship you build with your therapist is a meeting of two unique individuals with a shared purpose: to help you get a new perspective on a particular situation or on your life overall, and help you make meaningful change and reach goals that matter to you living your best life.
I hope this post helps give some new perspective on what to expect from counseling or therapy in Ventura. In my practice, I feel truly honored to be invited into my clients’ lives, and to be able to witness and participate in the deep work to experience and share greater freedom and joy.