Coming to speak to someone confidentially and in private, can be powerful and healing. Individual counseling/therapy can alleviate both pain and suffering, and add meaning and richness to life. Many people do not understand what therapy is truly like, until they begin the process.

What is individual counseling exactly?

Individual therapy is when you meet one-on-one with a mental health professional or therapist. A therapist is trained to help people overcome a wide range of problems. This can include depression, anxiety, relationship issues, managing emotions like anger, trauma, and a range of other life stressors.

What is the first appointment like?

The first meeting with a therapist has multiple goals. During this meeting, you have an opportunity to share the difficulties you want help with, get a feel for your therapist’s style, and develop goals. At Learning Dynamics, the first meeting is especially important. It helps your therapist to understand the issues/concerns that are creating difficulties for you, gets you comfortable with them, and makes sure you can work well together.

How long are the sessions?

The first session, lasts approximately 90 minutes. During this meeting, therapists gather background info to better understand you as a whole person, the timeline of your symptoms or concerns, and any other factors impacting your current struggles. The therapy meetings after, last 45-60 minutes.

Is talking really healing?

Talking through your difficulties with someone you trust, who is well-informed about how to manage problems can be life-changing. Therapy can help you gain perspective to help problem solve, learn new skills, and feel supported. Individuals that participate in our counseling program learn ways to express feelings, recognize patterns in thinking, and gain perspective on life experiences and relationships in order to achieve their goals.

What do therapists actually do?

Therapists use a variety of techniques and methods to customize the counseling experience to each individual and mental health issue, in hopes of helping to increase the participant’s sense of well-being and reduce their sense of discomfort. All therapists seek to increase their client’s mental health and to act as a confidential and careful listener.