What is Therapy? Often times this is a question I get asked from someone on their initial contact with Tríonóide Therapy. Some people are unsure about what therapy is, is it for them, what types are there and how does it work?
Counselling or psychotherapy as it is also known is a service offered by qualified therapists. Therapist work within an ethical and theoretical framework. Therapy consists of clients meeting their therapist on the main weekly at the same time and venue for consistency. It is generally an hour in length and it is a space for clients to come to talk about issues that are causing concern or are lingering within the client’s life. Therapy offers a space for clients to bring whatever it is that they wish to talk about. The therapist does not offer advice, but they listen carefully and work with the client to move forward and support the client to find different ways of thinking, approaching and dealing with the issues that can present in day to day life.
Some of the most common themes that emerge in therapy relate to difficulties that persist in clients lives in their present but often have their roots in the past, in past experiences or events that may have occurred. Clients often present with anxiety and depression and when they begin to speak it becomes clear that there are lots of suppressed emotions from their past that has led to them feeling anxious and depressed in the present.
Counselling is a non-judgemental space where clients can talk about their deepest most inner thoughts without the fear of being judged. Unlike talking to a friend therapists are trained to reflect to clients what they are hearing and listening to and it is through this process that the client starts to find a lot of the answers to their problems themselves.
One of the most important aspects of therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. The client should feel comfortable and supported within the therapeutic space. It may often take attending a number of different therapists before you find the right fit for you. An important part of finding a therapist is asking the therapist what kind of counselling they offer.
At Tríonóide Therapy a number of therapies are often blended and integrated together and approaches are tailored to meet the needs of the individual client. No two clients are the same therefore it is important for the therapist to approach each client in a way that is sensitive and will work for them. The therapist through their relationship with the client supports them to become aware of their thoughts, feelings and actions and gently alongside their client travels on the therapeutic journey.
Therapy can take time, there is no set path or amount of sessions that can be set out for a client to address what is going on for them. For some a number of sessions will suffice but for other’s much deeper and longer term work is required. It depends on what the client wishes to explore and address and it comes down to the readiness of the client to reflect and look at the deeper issues that are impacting on their lives. Therapy is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to yourself. Forming a greater relationship with yourself, becoming aware of your thoughts, your patterns of behaviour and how you impact others within your life can only support a person to make decisions and choices that are in their best interests into the future.
It can be a painful process however, the therapist is led by the client and will understand how best to pace the work and support the client to move towards their agreed goals within their lives.