Considering Therapy for the First Time. . . continuation

Therapy offers tested tools in a safe, confidential environment
Traditional support systems generally cannot provide the same assistance as therapy for a variety of reasons.
The individuals in families, communities and religious organizations may be part of the issues you are trying to resolve.
Those individuals may have agendas that conflict with your goals.
They are not likely to have accurate information and cannot offer reliable confidentiality.

Choosing a therapist that is a good fit is essential
Research indicates that the biggest determinant of satisfaction with therapy is the client/therapist relationship (see topic on menu). So it is very important that you feel there is a good match. Here are some questions to consider in selecting a therapist:

• Do I feel respected and listened to?
• Does the person have the necessary skills and training to address the concerns I have?
• Is the counselor non-judgmental and goal oriented?
• Are personal boundaries and confidentiality protected?
• Am I acquiring the skills necessary to achieve the goals I have set for myself?
• Does the therapist encourage use of support systems and provide suggestions for work outside the therapy session?
• Are all policies and procedure of the therapist explained to me?

Therapy depends on you
It is important to remember that you are the one who must do the work to grow and change—counselors are there to assist you in that process. If you have three key qualities—courage, perseverance and honesty with yourself—you should expect to find significant benefit in therapy.

To learn more about how therapists and individuals work together, see Success Factors in Therapy.
For additional information on the practice of Karen Thomas, see this Intake Form.
For information about patients' rights and confidentiality see the HIPAA Notice.

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