How to get the best results from therapy
Getting the most from therapy
Every client is different, and as such no therapist can guarantee 100% success – I advise you to proceed with extreme caution with any therapist who claims otherwise. Many clients I see have previously attempted to resolve issues prior to seeing me, and many have seen other therapists without success.
There is no “magic wand” or overnight method of resolving long standing problems, despite what some therapists claim and the hype written in the media. I cannot produce miracles, and several sessions are required to produce lasting change. The therapies I use have been chosen because they produce deep, long lasting and cost effective change. I promise that I will always give your my best attention at all times, and I do have a high success rate.
There is a definite link between the amount of work put in and the results achieved. Being pro-active yields excellent results. In order to get the best value from your sessions with me, I would suggest the following measures to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Know what you want
It’s very helpful if you can give me a clear idea of exactly what you want from therapy. This can be one, or many issues that need resolving. A helpful way of finding out is by writing down how would you like your life to be different in 6 months time? how will things be different from now? How will you know when you have the change you want?
I understand that for some, you may be feeling confused, stuck and and have no definite idea of what you really want from therapy – knowing that things are not right and you want a change. This is not a problem, and I can work towards setting some goals with you at a later date once therapy is under way.
Keep a diary
I see most of my clients on a weekly basis. A week can be a long time, and a lot can happen. I have found that those who make the most rapid progress are those who keep a record of what has been happening. This does not need to be exhaustive, nor involve pages upon pages of notes.
You could simply keep a record of what changes you notice, make a note of any thoughts or questions you would like to bring into the next session. Also make a record of the positive – did something really make you smile or chuckle today? Why not make a note of it?
Keep in contact
Even if you are seeing me on a weekly basis, I actively encourage you to keep in contact either by telephone or e-mail. This could be to forward a question you would like to raise for the next session, or perhaps you have a suggestion for me? Maybe it could be to clarify a point we have previously discussed? There is no need to wait until the next appointment to do so – I give you a free phone telephone number and encourage you to use it.
If you can follow at least one of these suggestions, or ideally all three, then you will find the therapy becomes easier, more structured and yields faster results.
