Individual Counseling Couples Counseling Adolescent Therapy and Family Therapy in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Silver Spring, Potomac, Kensignton and Georgetown Maryland and North West Washington D.C.

You may be wondering what would best suit your needs.
Explore the answers below:

What is psychotherapy and how does it work?
What is a consultation?

How Does Therapy Work?

If you are hurting inside, or your life just doesn't seem to be working, talking with friends or family members can sometimes help you feel a little better for a while. Even the most well-intentioned friend, however, can't provide therapy.

Therapy is a treatment process that uses specialized techniques of caring, listening and providing support, insight, guidance and/or suggestions. The process of therapy has been designed to offer effective, long-lasting help for people suffering from a wide range of difficulties, such as emotional distress, anxiety, marital strife, fears, a significant loss, or a clinical disorder. Therapy can also help fulfill aspirations for personal growth or self-improvement.

One of the biggest misconceptions about therapy is that seeing a therapist is a sign of weakness. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Recognizing the need for help and seeking professional therapy is a sign of both strength and your determination to live a productive and meaningful life! Working together with your therapist, you will identify your goals (what you want to have happen) and agree on how you'll know when you are making progress. Therapy has one clear and definite purpose: that something of positive value and constructive usefulness will come out of it for you and you will feel better.

Therapy has often been called the "talking cure," since the exchange of words between the client and therapist can appear to be the most obvious form of communication that is going on. In reality, therapy can offer a much richer experience than the simple exchange of words and advice. The thoughts and feelings you share and the professional techniques the therapist uses are not nearly as important as the relationship you build together. Because the relationship with the therapist is so essential to the effectiveness of the process, it is very important that you find someone with whom you feel a comfortable connection, a therapist who makes you feel understood.

As therapy progresses and your trust in the therapist's non-judgmental acceptance of your thoughts and feelings, is established, you will actually use the relationship as an opportunity to reshape significant emotional experiences and work through problems in your life. In therapy, you intentionally make yourself vulnerable to another human being and you may talk about some things that are very painful for you. However, it is the very process of trusting that it's safe to release your feelings--the good and the bad--and knowing that the therapeutic relationship permits you to safely explore deeply felt sources of conflict and dissatisfaction that will finally allow you to make lasting, positive changes in your life.

Think, NOW, about your situation and how you want to make your life better and call a professional therapist today!

What is a Consultation and How Can It Help?

Consultation services are a preventative and proactive approach to getting some guidance and support during a life transition or in daily living. Consultation is for the benefit of helping a client find some answers, advice, guidance and/or resources for their particular concerns. It is short-term (2 sessions) and can be supplemented with phone sessions to continue the support. It is not meant to be psychotherapy in that it is truly just to receive some guidance and assessment about what might help the client's situation.

A consultation provides a safe place to talk with a mental health professional about conerns regarding yourself, your partner or your children without the need to commit to on-going psychotherapy, assuming it's not indicated. It allows a client to explore some worries and to make decisions or changes in their lives to move in the direction of wellness and confidence.

It's important to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable. You have a right to meet with a few therapists before making a final decision. Since this is someone with whom you may be sharing personal and sometimes painful memories or circumstances, you want to feel confident that you can develop a trusting relationship with him or her and that they are knowledgeable about your particular concerns.

There are a number of ways to go about finding a therapist. You can search the internet using such well-known websites as PSYCHOLOGYTODAY.COM; you can ask your doctor or pediatrician; you can ask a school counselor or family and friends. You can also look up information with your insurance company

For a phone consultation or information, call 301-625-9102 and begin your journey towards contentment, healing and change. Now serving Bethesda, Maryland and North West Washington D.C.

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
-Anais Nin