Psychotherapy is a professional conversation focused on increasing self-awareness and mental, emotional and relational well-being. You may wonder if psychotherapy is worth the time, money and effort. Why therapy? Because…

It’s Needed: Research indicates between 30-50% of adults experience deep emotional difficulty at some point in their life, and common sense tells us that even these numbers may be a bit low. We know at least one in four adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Everyone needs someone to talk to, and many benefit from the wise, caring support of a trained professional. Click here to learn more about the basics of psychotherapy.

It’s Effective: People generally have fewer negative emotional symptoms and report experiencing a higher overall quality of life after receiving therapy. For the scientists and skeptics among you, here’s some research:

• American Psychological Association: Resolution of Therapy Effectiveness
• The Effectiveness of Psychotherapy
• American Psychologist: The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (pdf)
• The Consumer Reports Study: The Effectiveness of Psychotherapy

It’s Lasting: People who receive psychotherapy actually continue to improve and flourish after therapy ends. Along with reducing symptoms, therapy also helps you understand the underlying issues and make decisions in your life that can provide healing, growth, and positive change.

It’s Natural: We live in a medical age where it seems easier (and certainly quicker) to pop a pill and get on with it. Research suggests that 1 in 5 Americans currently use psychiatric medications. Many of these medications produce unpleasant side effects and prolonged use may produce negative physical consequences. Through psychotherapy, you can do something good for your body while avoiding the physical side effects.