When are you “Done” in Individual Therapy?
How do you know when you’re done with the therapy process?Therapists have different ideas about therapy – whether they strictly adhere to goals related to the presenting problem – or they take a more more flexible position where there is room for an ebb and flow of the process. I happen to fall more on the latter side of the continuum and I do so because I’ve seen more many people begin therapy with a stated “problem” that actually becomes something different. In other words, what appears in the beginning to be the issue may be only the symptom of what’s really going on. I believe it’s partly the therapist’s job to help the client identify what the underbelly of the symptom is.
My journey with my clients usually involves slowly peeling layers of the onion of who they are and what makes them function the way they do. Of course, the ultimate goal is to relieve symptoms and resolve the presenting problems.
I happen to have longer term therapy clients – particular my individual therapy clients. My experience is that people end up exploring and revealing new information, dynamics and an increased awareness into how the people in their lives have impacted them – and how they’ve responded.
So – when are you “done” in therapy?
I’d be curious to know if anyone who’s been to therapy has any insight to add here regarding when they knew they were “done.” I’d love to hear about it…
————————————
Lisa Brookes Kift is a therapist in Marin County, California. See more therapy and counseling articles by Lisa in The Toolbox at LisaKiftTherapy.com: A Resource for Emotional and Relationship Health.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Leave a Response
Entries(RSS)