Psychotherapy: Facts and Fiction

Katie Wu, MD

Many people seek the help of a psychiatrist or psychotherapist with certain preconceived ideas and expectations. I would like to take an opportunity to share with you some of my personal thoughts about this topic.

What psychotherapy is NOT:

1. An encounter where you unload what's up and you're provided solutions to problems. A therapist does NOT have answers; YOU do, and the therapist is there to facilitate the process by which you discover what's right for YOU.
2. Easy and quick solutions, after which you are "cured." Therapy is a process, not a 3- or 4- or 5-steps and you're "done." It takes honesty, time, patience and persistence. Gains can be made in a few sessions, and then again, may require months and years of hard work before deep-seated change occurs. Your readiness to look at yourself with honesty, humility and humor all impact the process.
3. An opportunity to blame everyone else. We all experience anger and resentment when others disrespect, abuse or in some way hurt us. In therapy, the work is not only about joining us in our rage and indignation; it is also about looking at our personal roles in creating what happens to us. In taking responsibility for those behaviors we learn how to make healthier choices in the future.

What Medications ARE and ARE NOT:

1. Medications are used to help treat mental illnesses and the symptoms that accompany them. They are NOT a QUICK FIX that leaves you "cured."
2. Medications require time and persistence to "get it right." The process of finding the best medication or combination of medications for a particular disorder that affects a particular individual CAN be a lesson in perseverance and patience.
3. Even when medications DO work well, they are NOT enough. Medications may be NECESSARY but are never SUFFICIENT for optimal health. The latter can only happen when an individual puts the time, energy and commitment into the healing process, taking personal responsibility for both his/her physical and emotional well being.

What psychotherapy IS:

1. An experience through which you can honestly explore EVERYTHING about you—with the goal of moving toward deeper understanding without judgment.
2. A place of confidentiality—where you can safely discuss all thoughts, feelings, and behaviors trusting in that confidence (except in those situations where the therapist has reason to believe that you or someone else is at serious and imminent risk of harm because of your actions)
3. An opportunity for personal growth as well as a chance to heal wounds and alleviate emotional pain and distress.
4. The development of "tools" to use in the present and future, so that when stress and difficult situations arise, you are better equipped to manage those times with less anxiety and more resilience.
5. And finally, a relationship which develops over time, through which you can repair past wounds, discover personal strengths, and come to a place of greater compassion for yourself and others.

I hope you find these musings useful. To find out more about healing through therapy (and medications where necessary), please contact any of our staff at HRC.