What Your Therapist Will and WON’T Do

Many clients have a false perception of therapy when they first contact our Michigan counseling centers. More specifically, they do not understand what a therapist does. Do therapists just listen? Do they provide feedback? Will my therapist judge me? Will my therapist pressure me to make changes I don’t want to make? These are just some of the questions that may be running through your mind.

We are here to clear the stigma and paint a true picture of a therapist’s role.

Your Therapist Won’t Judge or Criticize You

Therapy is not a place for judgment. No matter what happened in your past or what decisions you made before therapy, your therapist is there to help you. We all have elements of our past that we are not proud of. There is nothing wrong with that. Your therapist is on your team, and the primary goal is to improve your quality of life. Judgment is never part of that equation.

Your Therapist Will Make Suggestions to Improve Your Life

There may be aspects of your life that are making your current situation worse. For instance, you may have a social media addiction that is fueling your depression. You may have a toxic friend that is causing you to have low self-esteem. Your therapist will help you pinpoint areas of your life that could be improved. Then he or she will make suggestions for how to proceed with those improvements.

Your Therapist Won’t Pressure You

Every suggestion your therapist makes is purely a suggestion. You should never feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do. Some requests may feel uncomfortable at first, but they are ultimately for the better. For example, you may need to confront an experience from your past in order to bring closure to it. This is not fun, but once you’re through with it, you will feel much better.

Your Therapist Will Ask Purposeful Questions

Therapy in the modern world is a conversational experience. Your therapist will listen to everything you have to say, but he or she will also ask questions to continue the discussion. Each question has a purpose. It is designed to make you think about an experience, feeling or emotion in a different way. That new perspective will ultimately give you the “aha” moment you’re looking for.

Your Therapist Won’t Control the Therapy – You Will

You are always in control of your therapy sessions. The more in charge you feel, the more likely you are to see positive changes through therapy. This is something we firmly believe in here at Oakland Psychological Clinic, and we follow that concept in all of our Michigan counseling centers.

Your Therapist Will Teach You How to Help Yourself

The most important lesson anyone can learn in therapy is how to help themselves. Your therapist will guide you along the way, but you are the one who makes changes in your life. You will get the tools to help yourself long into the future so you can avoid feeling depressed, anxious, or unhappy later on. The lessons you learn now will benefit you for years to come – that’s the beauty of therapy.

To schedule an appointment with a therapist near you, contact one of our Michigan counseling centers.

Bloomfield Hills, MI: (248) 322-0001
Flint, MI: (810) 732-0560
Fraser, MI: (586) 294-3030
Grand Blanc, MI: (810) 695-0055
Lake Orion, MI: (248) 393-5555
Livonia, MI: (734) 522-0280
Milford, MI: (248) 684-6400
Southfield, MI: (248) 559-5558

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