Formerly, mental illness had been a topic shrouded with stigma. However, with the emergence of
celebrities coming forward about their struggles with mental illness, the topic has become not so faux
pas. With these societal changes, more people are starting to seek out support through therapeutic
services.
These changes have raised several questions about therapy, as such what does therapy actually look
like? Is it just going in and talking to a stranger? How am I supposed to trust this person? These are all
valid questions that a person entering therapy may initially ask. Therapy begins with meeting the client
where he or she is at in terms of their change cycle. This could mean working with the client to address
their apprehensions associated with therapy. Some people have had negative past experiences with
therapists. As such, therapy begins with building rapport and a trusting relationship with the client.
Once a foundation of trust has been built, the therapist and client work in a collaborative manner
towards the presenting issues that brought them to therapy. Therapy is a journey of self-discovery,
where the therapist and the client work together to help the client in improving his or her life. This can
mean a variety of things, depending on the individual. For some clients, the focus is on symptom
management so to help a client learn how to address their symptoms. Sometimes, a significant change
in a person’s life brings them to therapy. This can happen with the death of a loved one, a loss or change
of employment or a change to a person’s lifestyle that has impacted the person’s functionality. These
adjustment and lifestyle changes can be difficult to cope with and therapy can help to address these
issues and improve this person’s quality of life. Ultimately, therapy is a service that can help an
individual so to be able to thrive in one’s life.