(630) 633 8532
4932 Main St
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
Schedule an Appointment

Solid Foundations Therapy

  • Home
  • Our Team
    • Robyn Ashbaugh, LMFT
    • Anna Coyne, MFT Intern
    • Anne Marie Haugen, ALMFT
    • Ashley Okooboh, LCPC
    • Jazmine Price, ALMFT
    • Meagan Restaino, LPC, CADC
    • Irene Schreiner, LMFT
    • Diana Stofel, Intake Coordinator
  • Specialties
    • Affair Recovery
    • Couples Therapy
    • Dating
    • Breakup/Divorce Recovery
    • Discernment Counseling
    • Family Therapy
    • Individual Therapy
    • Individual Relationship Therapy
    • Online Counseling
  • Rates & Insurance
  • Testimonials
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Send Feedback
  • Employment Opportunities

What No One Tells You About Therapy (But Should!)

July 31, 2017 by Irene Schreiner Leave a Comment

It is said we fear the unknown, which is why many people shy away from receiving therapy. It can be intimidating walking into your therapist’s office for the very first time, not knowing what to expect.

On the flip side, some people assume they know everything about therapy, maybe from movies or tv,  and are then quite surprised when receiving treatment.

The thing is, though thankfully therapy is not as stigmatized as it once was, it is still not talked about in most social circles. And so many people have the wrong ideas about it. If you’ve been considering seeking help from a mental health professional, you most likely have some questions as well.

With that in mind, here is what no one tells you about therapy – but should!

It’s Not Like on TV

Pop culture would have you believe the minute you step foot into a therapist’s office, he or she will have you looking at Rorschach tests and talking about your dreams within minutes.

While these approaches can be used in therapy, they more than often are not. Dream interpretation can come up, but typically only if the client wants to discuss an interesting or disturbing dream they had.

Also, many people think the entire session is devoted to discussing your early childhood years and the effect your parents have had on your life. While many therapists will want to get a history on you to uncover specific behavioral patterns and emotional memories that have helped wire the brain, the idea of therapy is NOT to blame your parents for all of your current troubles.

At Solid Foundations Therapy, once you establish your goals for therapy we will work with you to teach you the skills and tools that you need to reach that goal.

You Won’t Feel Better Immediately

Though the end goal of therapy is to create better habits and behaviors that lead to creating a happy and fulfilling life, the process of getting there will sometimes be uncomfortable. It is unrealistic to expect you will feel better immediately. Therapy takes time and commitment.

In our experiences the biggest indicator of how long therapy will take is based on the clients willingness to practice and apply what they are learning in therapy on a daily basis.

You Have to Want to Change

You can seek advice from a nutritionist and personal trainer who will give you the tools to get fit and healthy. But if you don’t take their advice and you don’t do the work, you won’t see results.

The same is true for therapy. Your therapist will be gentle and kind and go at a pace that feels comfortable for you, but ultimately you have to want to get better. It takes work from you to get there. And the way people get better is to face their own behaviors, recognize the patterns, and make healthier choices. But don’t worry, your therapist will be there with you every step of the way, cheering you on.

Therapy isn’t magic, but it does provide you with the tools for lasting change.

If you or a loved one is interested in exploring treatment, please contact us today. We would be happy to speak with you about how I may be able to help.

Filed Under: Couples/Marriage, individual therapy, Tele-Health Page

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don’t keep putting your relationship on the back burner!

Recent Posts

4 Rules for Fair Fighting ( Video)

Now that we've started a new year, let's make it a priority to find better ways to resolve conflict with your partner! In this month's Therapy ...read more

How to set New Year goals the SMART way!

Have you ever heard the phrase, “new year, new me”?  I sure have! I don’t know about you but I’ve been guilty of making some New Year's ...read more

Using Soft Emotions to Bring your Partner Closer (video)

Did you know that leading with "soft emotions" can help you better connect with your partner during times of conflict? In this month's Therapy ...read more

5 ways to stay mentally healthy during this ongoing Covid season

I think we can all benefit from a mental check in right now, so let me ask you something!  How are you doing? How are you taking care of yourself? ...read more

Why Boundaries Are So Important! (Video)

Do you struggle with setting boundaries for your loved ones? If so, you're not alone! In this month's Therapy Moment, Meagan Restaino, LPC, CADC ...read more

Solid Foundations Therapy

(630) 633 8532
Info@Solidfoundationstherapy.com

4932 Main St
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515

Rates and Insurance
 
Client Forms

Find My Office

Send a Message

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

A bright site by Brighter Vision