Douglas Johns, LCSW
Portland, Oregon
503-252-3739
What To Expect In A Therapy Session
Douglas Johns, LCSW
For therapy to be effective a safe relationship with the therapist is crucial. Feeling safe means you can be who you are. You can share the parts of you that you like and you can reveal those parts you dislike and even fear. This takes time. It comes through development of the relationship between client and therapist.
With increased feelings of safety, sessions resemble conversations where you get to know yourself more deeply. We meet in an office that could feel like someone's living room. In time you can just be yourself, sit down, and share your daily experiences in the world. Goals emerge from the therapeutic experience as you more clearly discover what's important to you. For some people this means learning to be your own best friend. You will most likely experience some emotional pain but there will also be profound joy as you cultivate appreciation for your unique human life.
So it takes some commitment on your part. Commitment to show up and be yourself. It takes commitment to the process and to the time it takes to feel safe. And commitment to discovering that you are more than you might have ever imagined. The joy of psychotherapy is in experiencing just how transforming a trusting relationship like this can be. We may utilize humor, mindfulness exercises and playfulness in sincere exploration to uncover and build your resources. I believe effective psychotherapy is experiential. Regardless of the problem, the safe and respectful experience of the therapeutic relationship encourages the changes you want in your life.
Please call me with any questions you have at 503-252-3739.