Greater Houston Counseling Services

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What is an Individual Therapy session, and How does it Work?

Individual therapy

Individual therapy is a type of therapy in which a trained professional helps you work through the personal issues you have been facing. It is an effective treatment for various emotional and mental difficulties or illnesses. It is also known as talk therapy. Talk therapy can help improve and control symptoms that influence your well-being.

How does Individual Therapy Work?

Your Therapy sessions allow you to confidentially talk about your problems and issues with a counselor. It does not necessarily make all of your problems disappear, but it equips you with the tools needed to better cope with them.

Individual therapy may be used in conjunction with other mental and behavioral health treatments, such as family therapy or even substance abuse counseling.

What to Expect from a Therapy Session

Individual therapy is useful for many situations that cause conflict, grief, anger, or stress. In a comfortable and private setting, you and your therapist will explore many important issues, including:

  • Expression of thoughts and emotions

  • Problem-solving

  • Behavior patterns

  • Strengths and weaknesses

  • Conflict resolution

Individual therapy can be short-term, focusing on your immediate issues, or even long-term, delving into your more complex issues. The number of sessions and/or the frequency of your appointments depend on your situation and your therapist's recommendations.

The way this therapy strategy is implemented tends to vary dependent on the issues you may have, the practices of your therapist, and most importantly, your needs.

Individual Therapy - What Is It, How Does it Work, and Why It's Not for Everyone

Here are 7 Reasons Therapy Might be Right for you

If you are hesitant to sign up for therapy because of the stigma about mental illness, I could understand. However, individual therapy is extremely beneficial to you, especially if you are experiencing any of these common issues:

  1. Problems at work

  2. Loss of enjoyment of activities

  3. Recent trauma, such as divorce or the death of a loved one

  4. Extreme emotions, like sadness or anger

  5. Strained family and/or personal relationships

  6. Concern from friends or family

  7. Substance abuse

The Benefits of Individual Therapy

Your individual therapy is an effective treatment for many emotional, mental, and behavioral issues. But, it also can help you if you are facing any difficult situations in your life or would like to improve/develop healthier personal habits.

Your personalized therapy sessions can also provide these seven types of benefits to you:

  1. Providing coping strategies

  2. Adding to your support network

  3. Managing symptoms

  4. Gaining a better understanding of yourself

  5. Learning how to handle emotions

  6. Facilitating lifestyle changes

  7. Identifying underlying causes of symptoms

Whatever your issues may be today, therapy may be a great and life-changing experience for you to help you get to your next step. It is all about taking one step at a time.