FAQs About Counseling, Psychotherapy & Therapy in Philadelphia

FAQs about counseling, psychotherapy & therapy in Philadelphia

You decided (or were strongly encouraged by others) that you’d benefit from counseling. Now that you’ve learned how to find a therapist in Philadelphia, and have an idea of what to ask them, you’re still left with a bunch of questions. Guess what? That’s totally and completely normal.

As a therapist and counselor who serves Philadelphia and surrounding areas virtually, I’m going to share the most frequently asked questions I’ve been asked about therapy and seeing a therapist in Philadelphia.

Here are three of the most asked questions about therapy in Philadelphia. 

1.     I’ve never been in counseling or therapy before with a therapist in Philadelphia. What can I expect?

Going to therapy for the first time can be intimidating. All mental health clinicians are different because, literally, each is his/her/their unique person, with their own set of specialties, approaches, and personalities. While all therapists, counselors, and psychologists are different and run their sessions differently, there are some overlapping themes and things that generally occur. Here are a few.

Generally speaking, most therapists will: initially take time to build and foster a trusting, working relationship with their clients; provide a judgment-free space for their clients, while also challenging some of the things clients want help in changing; and with the client's help, come up with a plan for treatment.

2.     How long will counseling take?

Every client has different needs and goals for therapy. Because therapy is a truly, unique, personal experience for each individual, the length of time varies for each client. For my virtual private practice serving Philadelphia, my clients who prioritize their own mental health wellness, by committing to weekly counseling sessions, while actively engaging in the therapeutic process, tend to meet their goals and get relief from their symptoms faster than clients who are ambivalent to their treatment.

3.     What if it (therapy) isn’t working?

Part of the therapy process is coming up with goals you want to accomplish over the course of treatment. When I work with clients, we come up with a treatment plan together by identifying what you hope to get from counseling or how your life would change if therapy's doing what you need it to. Over the course of weeks, months, etc, I make sure to review your treatment plan with you, and together we’ll talk about your progress and what you still want to work on. If you're not seeing progress, that means we have to switch things up and re-evaluate.

A Counselor in Philadelphia

I hope this helps bring some clarity with some of the questions you may still have about therapy and counseling in Philadelphia. If you’re still having trouble and still have questions, please reach out here or call me at 717-685-5074 for a therapy consultation.

If you’re searching for anxiety counseling, DBT therapy, or counseling for trauma in Philadelphia, you can read how I help here.