Stages of Therapy

THERAPEUTIC PROCESS

People choose to engage in therapy for many reasons.  Maybe you are seeking support in response to an active crisis or to process a past traumatic event.  You may want to learn new coping skills or more effective communication skills to improve a personal relationship or to more confidently grow in your career.  You may simply want a safe space to share about your experiences and gain insight into your values, esteem, and life path.

No matter the reason for starting, therapy typically has five stages.  The amount of time spent in each phase varies and it is not always a linear process.  

Stages:

Relationship Building:  Research shows that 85% of treatment success can be attributed to the   therapeutic relationship (the other 15% is attributed to the type of therapy or techniques used).  The therapeutic relationship differs from social relationships in that the therapeutic relationship is a helping alliance with a common goal of healing and growth for the client.  As with all relationships, we will establish healthy communication and boundaries and build trust.  

Problem Assessment: We will explore stresses and problematic experiences and the impact they have on your relationships with yourself and others.  

Goal Setting: We will work together to identify realistic goals based on the needs identified in the problem assessment stage.  This is your opportunity to commit to change work.  

Therapeutic Intervention: Depending on your goals, therapeutic interventions may include examining and changing negative thought patterns, developing coping skills, implementing behavior modification techniques, learning new ways to communicate, and improving boundaries in relationships. We may identify resources that will be helpful outside of our sessions and also consider any additional support you may need including collaboration with your physical healthcare providers.

Termination: Ideally, termination is a planned process that occurs when you have reached all of your goals, or are making sufficient progress and no longer need the support of our therapeutic relationship.  In reality, termination can look like breaks or pauses, or potentially a mutual decision that we have reached a plateau and you may benefit from a referral to someone with a specialized practice.  It can feel bittersweet to have a “therapy break up” and we will talk through this experience as we plan for termination.