Nina Raff, LCSW
Reasons for Psychotherapy
If you are bothered by problems with emotions or behaviors, or if you are hindered in your ability to have love and other relationships, if your ability to work is being negatively affected by problems with emotions or behaviors, then some kind of mental health intervention may be helpful or necessary. Millions of people have sought this kind of help, with very positive results.
Relationship with the Therapist
There are many things that people can and do accomplish on their own to solve emotional and behavioral problems. Many people are fiercely independent and do-it-yourself oriented. Some solutions may include meditation and spiritual work, self-help, reading, education of many sorts, exercise and more. For most people, however, these solutions are not enough by themselves although they can be a great addition to psychotherapy. It is through relational experiences that we find the most healing. Therapy provides a safe, consistent and reliable relationship within which healing can occur. One of the most transformative experiences in psychotherapy is the opportunity to have another person know and understand us very well over a period of time. Having another person "get" us provides an amazingly satisfying experience which most people crave. Continuing to experience that over time, creates the safety and the foundation for emotional development and progress towards one's goals.
Feelings
As I learn to understand you, my goal is also to help you understand yourself and your own thoughts and feelings, and to put them into words. Within the context of this type of relationship, and by talking about yourself, you can begin to make sense of yourself and your life in new ways. You develop the ability to cope with and understand the meaning of your thoughts and feelings. When that happens, your emotional world expands, and you may begin to discover new, more enriching ways of living while letting go of old, ineffective, and damaging ways of living.Psychotherapy is not focused primarily on the past, and of course we cannot change the past, but understanding and integrating it into the present is necessary. Blaming parents or others for our problems will get us nowhere. Understanding how our relationships with them impacted us could change our lives.
Exploring the past helps us understand ourselves and the present more clearly. Behind emotional or psychological problems lies a unique history that explains how problems came to be and why they have been maintained. Understanding and insight lead to empowerment, growth, and permanent change.
It
takes time to bring about deep and lasting change. Sometimes a short term therapy can help with a well defined particular problem. Usually with bigger issues, multiple issues or larger life changes, more time will be required.
As you come to understand the meaning of your thoughts and feelings, they will become more integrated. As a result, you will find yourself responding to old situations and relationships in new ways and you will feel more alive. These types of results cannot be expected to take place at a fixed time or within a certain number of sessions. Just as every person is unique, every process of change is unique. At the same time, since this learning and change process begins immediately, many people begin feeling differently even after the first session.
The Cost
Therapy
is an investment in yourself. It is not cheap. It can help remove painful, difficult, or undesirable
symptoms. Therapy offers the opportunity to change old patterns or gain
control over the problems that pursue you. It offers a path to feeling
better and more comfortable with yourself. Because different services are priced differently, we can discuss the cost face to face, on the phone or in person when we discuss your needs.
