Questions that are frequently asked
In the process of deciding whether you need therapy or not, you need to trust your judgment. After all therapy is a very personal decision. Even though therapy is a difficult process and often requires people to talk about painful issues, usually it is the only way to deal with these issues.
Psychotherapy is the process of dialogue and conversation around a presenting problem, mainly targeting a change. Change can mean solving problems, internal conflicts, improve skills and increase self-awareness. In psychotherapy, the client is asked to set his own therapeutic request/goal. The client is called to have willingness to gain new ways of understanding and engage in a journey of self-awareness. It is a process that requires the commitment and investment of the individual. In this process, the therapist sets questions. The therapist is the expert on the questions and not the answers that relate to the life of the client. The therapist cannot make decisions for the client, and doesn’t judge. The therapist may explore dilemmas along with the clients and assist them in making the best decision.
The duration of therapy depends on several factors including, the presenting problem, the severity of the problem, the number of issues that the client wants explore, the client’s commitment to therapy but also the therapist effectiveness. Some clients follow a brief form of therapy while others a long-term form of therapy. Sessions continue as long as the client and the therapist agree that the sessions are needed.
Sessions are usually scheduled once a week. In cases of crisis intervention sessions may be scheduled more frequent based on clients’ needs. Session duration is 50 minutes. If you wish to cancel an appointment you will need to make these arrangements at least 24 hours in advance.
The amount of information that you want to disclose is strictly up to you. Some clients need time in order to feel comfortable and safe enough to disclose personal information. It is important though, to know that the more information you reveal to your therapist the more broad perspective she will gain on the presenting problem and the more effective the interventions will be.
No-one has access to the information you provide, information you disclosed is strictly confidential. A written permission is needed from you in order to disclose any information. However, in rare occasions, the therapist is obligated by the law and ethics to break the confidentiality agreement. These cases are strictly defined by law. More specifically, these cases include situations where the client is in an immediate danger towards self or/and other people by stating to the therapist the intent to harm self and/or other people. In these cases, the therapist is obligated to disclose this information in order to protect the client and the people who are in danger by notifying the authorities. Also, confidentiality is obligated to be broken when there is a violence/abuse towards a minor (under the age of 18) or towards people who are unable to protect themselves (such as elders, disable people). The word violence/abuse refers to acts of physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect.
No, psychologists do not prescribe drugs. Psychiatrists do. Depending on the severity of the problem and how much these difficulties interfere with your daily function, sometimes psychologists need to refer clients to psychiatrists, in order to have medications prescribed. In those cases the combination of drugs and therapy might be the most effective approach. However, this decision is always made after discussing it with the therapist.
