Individual Therapy

In today’s blog post, we will discuss individual therapy, what to expect and how it works.

Your first therapy session can be very anxiety provoking. Not knowing what to expect or not knowing how it may work can be scary, especially if you’ve never been before. So, I am writing this to hopefully put anyone considering therapy at ease. I will try to paint a picture for those who may be very anxious or may have no idea what to expect. Let’s start with the basics and build from there.

What is Individual Therapy?

Individual therapy (or simply ‘therapy’ for short) is a one-on-one session with a psychologist. Individual therapy can be used for a wide variety of challenges.

What is the Environment Like?

I know therapy can be scary at first. I always try to create a relaxed, non-judgmental, and safe space. To give you an idea, in most psychologists’ rooms there will be comfortable chairs or a couch, and you will sit across from one another.

What Will We Talk About and What to Expect?

During your first session we will discuss several things. There may be some paperwork to discuss and sign. We will discuss all your rights, such as your right to confidentiality.

We will explore what brought you to therapy. It’s not easy to open up and discuss deeply personal topics with someone you have just met. Before we meet, I want to reassure you: relax. There is nothing you can say that is ‘wrong.’ I know it is not always easy. It takes time to feel comfortable enough to talk about the issues that led you to therapy. There are no expectations for you to share everything on the first day. Therapy is a process, and it takes time. The only expectation is that you are willing to put in the effort and give therapy a fair chance.

You are always welcome to ask any questions at any time. Finally, we will set up goals together for therapy.

What Services do I Offer?

My approach to therapy is humanistic and systemic perspective with techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Humanistic psychotherapy focuses on the enormous potential of individuals to improve and heal. It places the person at the centre of psychotherapy, instead of a diagnostic label. Systemic psychology is a worldview that focuses on communication and relationships—how people interact with one another.

CBT and DBT are behavioural therapies. CBT focuses on thought, feelings, and behaviours. It has been found effective for a number of anxiety and depression-related difficulties. DBT aims to help manage emotions, improve relationships and lead a more fulfilling life. DBT has been found to be particularly effective for individuals who self-harm, struggle controlling their emotions and/or have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

I work with a variety of psychological challenges, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety, Panic and OCD
• Loss and Grief
• Life stages and Transitions
• Medical Illness and Pain Conditions
• Men’s Health Issues
• Personality Difficulties
• Couples Therapy
• Family Therapy

Finally, if you would like to discuss therapy or find out more about our offerings at Thrive Psychology, please give us a call.

Later this week I am going to delve into something I am passionate about. Stay tuned for that.

Steve Levitas

Clinical Psychologist