Therapeutic Philosophy

Therapy is a potentially powerful and delicate exercise, which although chancy and difficult, is worthy of our best efforts.  Psychotherapy is a noble profession, and its practitioners, although ordinary mortals, do have moments of genuine transcendence during which time they are able to promote the healing and wholeness of others.

As one who attempts to assist those who seek his assistance, I acknowledge that not all best-intentioned efforts succeed.

There are no ten commandments for therapeutic success.  However, I’d like to suggest five insights that are sure to contribute to any therapeutic success.

1.         You must have a clear objective.  The more specific an objective the easier it will be for both you and your therapist to monitor therapy’s success.

2.         You must maintain a realistic expectation of the results you seek from therapy.  Develop a willing spirit to eschew magic or grandiose thinking and you will more likely experience a therapeutic outcome you can value.

3.         You must be honest.  Before you can succeed you must concede.  Healing begins the moment you are able to confront the truth.  You are often an accomplice to the wrong doing against us.  Everyone must repeat what he or she does not admit that is true.

4.         You will increase the probability of a favorable therapeutic outcome if you develop a strong motivation to change. Remember what you call change is often an exchange.

5.         You must understand and embrace therapy’s companion of awareness, which is discomfort.  The way out is the way through, it is called growing pains.  The choice is ours; we can grow up or just old.