Psychotherapy is often referred to as talk therapy where the client and therapist’s primary means of interaction is talking. But is psychotherapy just talk then? I hope not, at least not the type of therapy I provide. While it’s true that catharsis is a greatly therapeutic process where the client has the opportunity to verbalize what’s on his/her mind and be understood without judgement, there’s more to psychotherapy than just “talking to feel better”.
The process of therapy consists of significant moments in which clients talk about some of the most personal and vulnerable aspects of their lives. It could be about their sense of insecurity, childhood traumas/memories, aspirations that they have been too afraid to share with anyone, or thoughts and feelings that seem too embarrassing to talk with friends about. When such sensitive subjects are discussed, a skilled therapist should not only be able to listen attentively to patterns that are likely to emerge but also gently guide the clients towards making constructive changes in their lives. In that sense, therapy is a life-changing process through which clients can convert their feelings into positive actions.
Similar to going to the gym with a personal trainer, one can expect to achieve physical fitness, just like feeling better after a therapy session. But an exceptional personal trainer is likely to be able to guide their clients towards becoming more disciplined, goal oriented, and determined even outside of the training session. Therapy is no different. With the right therapist, you should expect more than just feeling better as the insights gathered in therapy should translate into overall better decision making, confidence, and ability to enjoy life which are qualities we all deserve.