Counseling Fundamentals

Therapy is a safe space where clients can allow themselves to experience feelings that they have not, otherwise expressed elsewhere. Crying is absolutely "normal" and it allows the client to process their feelings. 

It's normal to cry. Crying is a very healthy and cathartic process that allows for you to fully experience whatever emotion you feel, whether it be tears of joy or tears of sorrow. To cry in therapy is quite normal and there shouldn't be anything wrong with it. Crying is a part of being human. It's... more

Crying in therapy may or may not be different than crying outside of therapy. Crying is something described as a sign of weakness, however depending on who you ask and your own beliefs, crying is actually a sign of strength, courage and vulnerability. If you are crying or experience tearfulness... more

Absolutely not! A lot of the issues that have been identified are strongly correlated to each other. Sometimes when you start therapy and 'address' the first issue, it helps decrease the severity of the other issues. 

It is very common for people to have multiple issues that they want to (and need to) address in counseling. I have had clients ask that same question and through more exploration, there is often an underlying fear that they "can't be helped" or that they will "be too much for their therapist." I... more

You will know when you have the right there is when you have been able to establish a trusting relationship with this person, there's a level of honesty and transparency within this relationship, and this person challenges you on different levels to come out of your comfort zone and to grow.

This is a big question. Whenever you are in the position to choose your therapist, it is a good idea to do a consultation first so you can get a feel for them and see if you think your personality might match well. Sometimes it is difficult to tell in a very short meeting however and it can take a... more

I believe that most people usually know right within the first couple of sessions if they have found the right therapist. You would want someone that you can trust and someone that you feel comfortable talking to. You would also want someone who has the experience and skills to help you with your... more

This is a great question. Most therapists offer a free consultation and you should take advantage of this. During this conversation, you will know if you have a connection with them. If they are easy to talk to and know how to help, they are the one for you. As far as "training" them, this is... more

Finding "the right therapist" is about both feel and fit. A skilled therapist should be at a minimum 2 things: An accurate mirrorA good explanatory voiceAs an "accurate mirror", he or she should be able to help you clarify your thoughts, feelings, values, etc - helping you gain perspective on... more