therapeutic relationship

It’s one of the most important questions in therapy. It’s stereotypical. Sometimes, it’s disruptive. It can lead to anxiety and self-examination. And it’s not going away. Your therapist ... Read More

Dear new client: Welcome to the wonderful world of therapy! I know it can be hard to come in for your first appointment—really hard. You are here to meet me, a stranger who will hear ... Read More

Sexuality is often a sensitive issue. In recent months, many people have come forward, speaking out about inappropriate, harmful, and abusive sexual behaviors and actions taken by people ... Read More

Dear GoodTherapy.org, Several years ago, my wife began seeing a therapist. After a year, she asked that I join her for a session. Afterward, I began seeing the same therapist frequently ... Read More

People seek out therapy for any number of reasons: anger management, trauma, relationship issues, or anxiety, just to name a few. But whatever the issue or concern bringing a person to ... Read More

Complex posttraumatic stress, known as C-PTSD for short, is the result of prolonged series of traumatic experiences at the hands of someone the victim has a personal relationship with. ... Read More

It is often assumed by the general public that psychological diagnosis is a normal part of therapy that always occurs. Some people who have been in therapy may be unaware they have received ... Read More

In psychotherapy, it can be useful to work from a model. It gives both participants—person in therapy and therapist—a common language and system of references. Naturally, different ... Read More

People come to psychotherapy because they want to feel better. A big part of a therapist’s ability to help a person feel better lies in their taking a loving stance toward that person. ... Read More

I was recently talking to a colleague about the topic of therapist self-disclosure and when it’s appropriate to reveal versus withhold certain details regarding personal information. ... Read More

Being a therapist is not easy. Contrary to what many believe, it’s not just “sitting and listening” to people all day. Yes, therapists are listening, but a competent therapist is ... Read More

One challenge that can arise for therapists is the decision whether to disclose personal tidbits of information as they become potentially relevant during treatment with the people we help. ... Read More