FEATURE
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Photo illustration by Tanner Grubb Talking it out. Telling a complete stranger about the most personal experiences of your life may seem weird at first, but therapy can be beneficial to your health. Alleviating problems can allow you to regain focus on academics, relationships and other commitments. Finding a therapist you feel comfortable taking to is key and will hopefully give you the best chance for a positive experience.
people you know. Lawrence says you should get a referral from someone who has benefited under the therapist's care. Howard found her counselor on recommendation from a family member who had seen him in the past.
You should know several things about a therapist before you see one, Tessina says. Be sure to find out about credentials, expertise, how much it's going to cost and if the therapist's office takes your insurance.
If you don't feel comfortable asking for referrals from other people, go online and research a therapist before making an appointment. Doing research and covering all your bases should leave you feeling confident in the competency and expertise of the therapist you have chosen. But you have to remember, someone who is good for one person might not be a good fit for another. So don't get discouraged if the first therapist you see doesn't work out.
Goodman says the relationship between you and your therapist is unique. "It's a different type of relationship," she says. "It takes time to build up trust. It's all about the chemistry between the two of you. If it doesn't work out, it's not a big deal. You don't have to feel bad about it. Your therapist isn't going to be mad or hurt if you
want to see someone else."
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THERAPY
Initially, your therapist will want to know about your background, your family and what motivated you to seek therapy. Goodman says. During this time, there is no reason for you to be nervous or self-conscious. The therapist is there not to judge you, but to help work out problems. "It doesn't need to be this huge psychological examination," Goodman says. "You don't have to be really depressed to go to therapy. Everyone can benefit from it by exploring and talking about what's important. It's a good place to talk things out in a positive and supportive way."
In addition to the typical individual talk- therapy sessions that most people choose as their preferred method of counseling, there are many diverse techniques and approaches to therapy that are available. Whether it's through individual or group therapy, Lawrence says the best way to approach your problems is by finding the root cause of your suffering. "It's excellent if
KEEPING AN OPEN MIND
the therapist you see is skilled at getting down to cause of people's issues," she says.
Even if you don't go to therapy,you should realize it can be beneficial for many people. So keep an open mind about it. It's entirely possible that we could have less abuse, violence, hatred and sadness in this world if more people were in therapy.Because emotional issues are a normal part of life,therapy will always be a good source for people to address their issues and positively work toward self improvement.
UNIVERSITY RESOURCES
For students seeking counseling or therapy, the University offers Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), located on the second floor of Watkins Health Center, and the KU Psychological Clinic, located on the third floor of Fraser Hall.
CAPS provides students with a variety of different services including individual, couples, group and psychiatric therapy on a scale of reasonable prices. John Wade, licensed psychologist and outreach coordinator at CAPS says the center's goal is to help students function in college by discussing their concerns and helping them deal with their emotions.
For more information about CAPS visit http://www.caps.ku.edu/
The KU Psychological Clinic is a training, teaching and research facility available to anyone in the greater Lawrence area. The clinic is staffed by licensed clinical psychologists and graduate students working toward their doctorate degree in clinical psychology. The clinic offers individual adult, couples, child and adolescent therapy, psychological assessments and group therapy. The clinic is currently running a mindfulness training group and a group treatment of depression, which incorporates therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC). For more information about the KU Psychological Clinic visit http://www.psych.ku.edu/psych_clinic/
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