A.

Talking about your problems to anyone can feel good, but speaking to a trained therapist can help you take the therapeutic benefits to a whole new level. Therapists not only listen, they also help you reflect on and analyze your thoughts and feelings. Therapists are not only supportive, but they sometimes challenge your current thinking or current actions when those are becoming detrimental to your goals and life. Therapists are teachers - you will learn problem-solving skills, coping strategies, and communication skills to assist you as you work through the issues you are facing. Therapists are neutral, non-judgmental sounding boards that can help couples and families manage and resolve their interpersonal relationships. Therapists are trained in human development, and can help you understand how unresolved childhood issues may be causing problems in your life today. Finally, therapists can act as a new lens through which you see your problems, helping you view your situation from a whole new perspective, thereby uncovering solutions that may not have occurred to you before.

A.

The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how consistently and fully you participate, and how much you put into practice what you learn in therapy. Through therapy, you may experience:

• A better understanding of yourself and how your thoughts/actions influence your situation.
• A decrease in feelings of worry, fear, and anxiety
• Better ways to cope with and manage feelings of sadness/depression
• An increase in self-esteem and self-confidence
• Improvement in the ways you manage stress and anger
• Healthier relationships with others
• Development of strong problem-solving skills
• Lessening of feeling stuck and an increase in the ability to move forward toward what you want to achieve

A.

The first step is to contact Rachel Benson at 714-468-3685 via phone call or text message, or through email at info@tustincounseling.com to set up an appointment. Rachel will ask some questions to make sure you are matched with the therapist that will be the best fit for you and help you get your initial session scheduled.  The initial session is a bit different than all the other sessions afterwards. In the initial session, your therapist will ask questions about what brings you into therapy, as well as important questions about your background, family, school, work, and medical history. Your therapist will also help you think about what you want to gain from therapy - what changes you want to see in yourself and in your life by participating in therapy.

A.

Therapy sessions are private, and the content of those sessions will be held in the strictest of confidence and will not be shared with anyone without your written consent. However, that there are a few important exceptions to confidentiality, which you must know about. The following are legal exceptions to confidentiality:

1. Suspected physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a minor under 18 years of age.
2. Suspected physical, sexual, or financial abuse or neglect of an elder or dependent adult.
3. A client who poses a significant threat of harm to self or others.
4. If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for information stated on the subpoena.

A.

This is a great question, and the truth is, the answer is different for everyone! We suggest starting with 6 sessions (one per week), and then evaluating with your therapist if there is more work to do. That being said, there is no minimum number of sessions and you are free to end therapy with us at any time and seek alternative ways of meeting your goals.