Psychotherapy
Our awareness and understanding of our own actions are often limited, which can prevent us from achieving our goals or feeling a sense of contentment. Through the process of psychotherapy, you can come to understand the underlying (or unconscious) factors that may be influencing your thoughts and impeding your success. You can learn how to actively cultivate your own happiness and live a healthier, more productive life.
What is Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a transformative process in which clients first identify what they want to change in their lives. The psychotherapist and the client then collaboratively develop strategies, decision-making skills, and solutions to implement these changes. Since the mind can create roadblocks or resistances to change, the role of the psychotherapist is to help clients understand these reluctances and how to overcome them. Though there are many schools of psychotherapy, all involve a process that teaches clients new ways to deal with problems, how to gain insight into their behaviors and choices, and how to live with more authenticity and joy.
What are the Benefits of Therapy?
With a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy, a psychotherapist can help clients:
- Improve relationships
- Enhance communication skills
- Develop better stress management
- Learn positive coping mechanisms
- Identify unique strengths
- Create forward momentum (become “unstuck”)
- Overcome past pain or trauma
- Foster an overall sense of well-being
Clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem may also experience physical symptoms that impact their daily lives. Common symptoms can include insomnia, fatigue, excessive worry, increased heart rate, feelings of hopelessness, grief, or suicidal thoughts. Psychotherapy can help relieve these symptoms and improve the client’s overall quality of life.
It is also important to note that mental and physical health are interconnected. Stress and depression can affect us physically. Our bodies can express unhappiness and worry in unexpected, physical ways. Though many of the benefits of working with a psychotherapist are mental, psychotherapy incorporates mindfulness and promotes overall well-being, which may also include improved physical health.
Is Psychotherapy Right for Me?
Psychotherapy provides a confidential environment to articulate your goals, voice your struggles, and discover actionable solutions. People choose to begin psychotherapy for different reasons at different times in their lives. The process is most effective when people have a strong desire to change and when they decide to come on their own.
Therapy can benefit people who seek to:
- Adjust to new life transitions (such as college, career change, move to a new city, marriage, divorce, parenthood, sexual identity, death of a loved one, or diagnosis of health issues)
- Replace maladaptive ways of coping (misuse of substances, addictive behaviors, etc.)
- Consciously change an outcome when experiences or behaviors seem to be repeating themselves
- Resolve or obtain closure for conflicts that have taken place in the past
- Develop more fulfilling relationships
- Find purpose
- Live a more authentic life
A licensed therapist can help clients achieve healing or enact major life changes. Since the relationship between a therapist and a client is so unique, spend some time researching your options. Therapists with a psychodynamic understanding may be better equipped to address conflicts or roadblocks at a deeper level, going beyond simple behavior changes and resolving problems at their source.
While maintaining professional boundaries, therapists should also be compassionate and accepting. Therapists should facilitate safe spaces that are culturally sensitive and open-minded. It is important to remember that not every therapist is a good match for every person. When meeting a therapist for the first time, consider it an opportunity for you and the therapist to get to know one another. Sometimes it may take two or three sessions to figure out if a therapist is a good fit. Scheduling a consultation is the best way to determine if a therapist is right for you.
Will Therapy Be Covered by My Insurance?
Janell Kalifey, LCSW is an out-of-network provider. However, if a client wants to file for reimbursement from their health insurance provider, a claim form can be completed for submission. Acceptable forms of payment include credit card or cash. Payments are due at the time of service.
Contact Janell Kalifey, LCSW
To learn more about how you might benefit from psychotherapy, please schedule a consultation with Janell Kalifey, LCSW today.