At some time in our lives, each of us may need help dealing with our problems. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 30 million Americans need help dealing with feelings and problems that seem beyond their control-problems such as job worries, marital and family problems, illness or injury, loss of a loved one, anxiety, loneliness, substance abuse or depression.

Sometimes we need some outside assistance from a trained professional. Through therapy, psychologists help millions of Americans of all ages find solutions to their problems. Therapy is a partnership between an individual with a troubling concern and a professional trained to understand and help people change how they feel and how they live their lives. It provides a supportive environment to talk openly-and confidentially-about concerns and feelings.

A psychologist and a client work together in partnership. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things you talk about both during your sessions and at home.

There are many different methods and approaches to psychotherapy. Some approaches are extremely helpful within three to six months, while others can take several months for maximum effectiveness. It is important to use the approach that addresses your particular problems most effectively. You need to discuss this with your psychologist at the beginning of therapy. Some of the methods used include cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, family systems, martial, and play therapy. You can find descriptions of these approaches in the glossary accessible from the home page of this website.

Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, or anger as you explore issues during you therapy. However, psychotherapy has been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress.

Being an active participant in your therapy can help you to function more effectively in your daily life, and to meet new challenges in the future successfully.