By Ben Butina
Even if you’ve never been in therapy before, you probably have some mental image of what it’s like based on TV shows or movies: two people sitting in leather chairs, talking quietly in a beautiful office.
The kind of therapy you’ve seen on TV is available, but you might be surprised at how many other options are out there.
When you say the word “therapy” or “counseling,” this is the kind of approach most people think of. If you choose individual therapy, you will work one-on-one with your therapist in a private office, usually for one 50-minute session a week.
Just because you’re the only client in the room, though, you can still expect to spend time talking about and working on your relationships—a vital part of any counseling experience.
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If you choose group therapy, you’ll probably start with an individual interview with the therapist to make sure you’re a good fit for the group.
Groups range in size from 3-12 members, with the average being around 6-8. Typically, the entire group, along with the therapist, meets once a week for about 90 minutes in a large meeting room. Because of the space necessary, it’s not unusual for groups to take place in community centers or church social spaces.
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Sometimes called marital therapy, marriage counseling, or relationship therapy, the focus here is primarily on the relationship between two people. You and your partner will meet with a therapist to discuss your problems and work on ways to improve your relationship. Although rare, some therapists will work with each member of the couple in individual sessions as well. Like individual therapy, sessions are usually held once a week for about 50 minutes in a private office.
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Family therapy usually takes place in a private office, but increasingly, family therapists are offering services in the home. In either case, you can expect at least one 50-minute session a week. With this form of therapy, it’s not uncommon to have multiple or extended sessions as well. If you choose this approach, you may work with more than one therapist.
Your therapist might work with the entire family, subgroups within the family, individual members, or some combination of these arrangements.
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Ben Butina is a therapist and trainer. You can learn more about this book and how to order bulk copies of at its website,
www.howtofindagoodtherapist.com.
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