As mental health concerns are becoming increasingly destigmatized, more and more people are open to seeking counseling for issues they are struggling with. Nearly 50% of people will be involved in counseling or therapy at some time in their lives. This might be for substance abuse issues, marital or relationship problems, or specific conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety, or trauma issues. When investing the time, energy, and money into therapy, most people want to get as much out of it as possible. What follows are some of the variables that will increase the changes of success.
It’s Important to Show Up
This may seem like it should go without saying, but failure to engage is more common than people would think. There have been a number of studies that show many people begin to feel better immediately after scheduling an appointment, largely because they feel like they are taking action to work on their issue. Ironically, some people, because they are starting to feel better, end up not showing up for their first appointment, and needless to say, are not getting the tools needed for long-term success. Other people are prone to canceling, rescheduling, or just missing appointments. Likewise, these folks are typically not getting the tools and skills they need for sustained success with their issues.
Being Open-Minded and Willing to Try New Things
For most people, the things they have been doing are not working, which is why they have considered coming into therapy to get some relief. Unfortunately, many people think they know best and what will and won’t work for them and are very dismissive of ideas, suggestions, and strategies offered and never even give them a chance. It’s one thing to be skeptical about a technique and try it out and see what happens. It’s another thing to disregard and dismiss it out of hand. We have heard from many people in subsequent sessions who admit they didn’t think something as simple as a breathing or relaxation technique would help with their anxiety only to report that it worked way better than could have imagined. Not everything works for everyone, but the only way you find out what will work for you is to try some different things and evaluate for yourself.
Integration and Application
We see many clients who seem to have a philosophical and theoretical appreciation for the insights and techniques we cover with them in session, but the wisdom and tools received do not seem to leave the therapy office with them. These people seem to forget what they have learned when they walk out the door and resume their life once they are out the door which includes returning to all their bad habits and ways of handling things. Insight is often necessary to change and improve, but it is not sufficient. It is crucial to take what you learn in therapy and work to integrate it into everyday life and apply what is learned to real-life situations. Making things into a lifestyle change is often what is needed for most people. It is similar to what we hear about dieting. A crash diet may lose some pounds initially, but if you return to former patterns, you will put the weight back on. Sustaining changes often requires a change in lifestyle and approach.
Maple Grove Psychiatrists
If you are interested in meeting with one of the providers, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an individual consultation with one of our providers so we can help discuss treatment options. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
To get more great resources, sign up for our newsletter, like us on Face Book, or follow us on Twitter.
Innovative Psychological Consultants
Peace of Mind You Deserve
Schedule An Appointment
"*" indicates required fields
