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Therapy

While therapy can provide profound and life-changing results, it is important to first build a strong foundation of trust between the client and the provider. It takes time to build that sense of safety, no matter how badly you want it. Patience and taking the time to build a rapport are an intrinsic part of the therapeutic process that will lay the groundwork for healing.

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What is Therapy?

Therapy can be a powerful tool for examining thought and belief patterns, but it can also be difficult, uncomfortable work. In therapy, we often explore and disclose our deeply held beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world around us. We may uncover patterns of thinking that have developed over time that are impacting our emotions, behaviors, and relationships in negative ways. Examining these thought and belief patterns can be difficult because it can challenge our sense of identity and understanding of ourselves and the world. It may require us to confront uncomfortable emotions or experiences and to question long-held beliefs and assumptions. ​Furthermore, changing these patterns requires a willingness to try new things, to take risks, and to be open to new ways of thinking and behaving. This can be difficult, vulnerable, and may require a great deal of effort and persistence.

 

As difficult as it is, the benefits of this work can be immense. By examining our thought and belief patterns, we can gain greater self-awareness and insight into our emotions, behaviors, and relationships. We can learn to challenge negative self-talk and develop more positive, compassionate ways of thinking about ourselves and the world. We may also find that this work leads to greater resilience and the ability to cope more effectively with life's challenges.

 

​The therapist's role is to act as a curious, empathic guide, providing support and tools as the client works through their challenges. The client, on the other hand, is the expert in their own life and experiences, and it's their responsibility to take an active role in the therapy process by sharing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. To get the most out of therapy as a client, it's important to approach the process with an open mind and a willingness to engage in self-exploration.

 

​Ultimately, therapy provides a safe and supportive environment in which to explore these patterns and to develop new ways of thinking and behaving. While this work can be difficult, the benefits can be life-changing.

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What should I expect?

I work with new clients on a weekly basis to start, and treatment typically lasts 2-3 years.  For the first 6 months to one year, the focus of therapy is on developing trust and intimacy in the therapist-client relationship while also learning and observing how the client functions and the patterns that shape their life.

 

Research has shown time and time again that the most consistent contributing factor in healing within a mental health space is the therapeutic relationship. It is vital to feel safety, trust, support, and connection to your therapist, because that vulnerability will enable you to explore and confront challenging parts of yourself. That involves exploring how our identities (race, gender, sexuality, class, etc.) interact with each other in a space, as well as sharing feedback, such as how the client is/can be experienced by another.

 

I believe fostering intimacy and trust in a therapeutic relationship, especially amongst oppressed persons, requires being vulnerable on my end as well. As a relational therapist, I approach our relationship as one that mirrors the other relationships and ways you show up in your everyday life. At times I will disclose my personal experiences in a therapeutic space, but only when I can see that it would facilitate a client’s healing process and consent is affirmed. 

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