Why therapy?
Until recently, people have relied on their family/whanau, friends, and spiritual advisors to talk through problems - and having that support is wonderful.However, professional therapy - which is rooted in behavioural science - is fast becoming the more effective and confidential way of negotiating our personal issues.
How is it effective?
New research has shown us which treatments work, and which ones don't. We have long known that talk therapy in itself has positive outcomes, but the combination of this and evidence-based research makes therapy helpful for many mental health issues.
How is it more confidential?
Good therapy is dependant on trust, and sharing intimate thoughts and feelings with people in our communities may be problematic - especially in this age of technology, where information can be shared so easily.
Great - but how does it work exactly?
Professional therapy teaches you to understand the behaviors that are making your life more difficult. In analyzing why and how we do what we do, we start to acknowledge underlying feelings that are associated.Sometimes, we dont even know we are doing something harmful to ourselves, or others, until we talk about it at length. A good therapist lets a client share their thoughts and then offers insight - not advice. Therapy works well when you (the client) start to implement changes in your life with the guidance of your therapist.
See below to learn about some of the common
mental health issues therapy is helpful for.
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Anxiety and Depression
Fear and sadness are natural states of the human experience and to varying degrees, they exist in all of us. When these states start to interfere with the daily functioning of our lives, we are experiencing anxiety and/or depression. It is important to talk about why this is happening to you, and together we can explore the many successful treatmentsfor these common disorders.
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Relationship Issues and sexual health
Having fulfilling relationships is crucial to our lives, be it with an intimate partner, our kids, or our colleagues. Learning how to effectively communicate is vital to a healthy relationship, and therapy focuses on teaching you tools to help you navigate the people within your world.
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Alcohol/Drug abuse?
New Zealand has an underlying alcohol and drug culture that is becoming more pervasive across all socio-economic groups. Substance abuse can create deep problems within our communities and families - but there is hope. Therapy has been proven very effective for people managing drugs and alcohol in their lives.
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Personality Disorders?
Ever feel obsessive? Insanely jealous? Taking everything personally? Manic one day, suicidal the next? Do you have problems relating to others, or perhaps feel no one relates to you? Personality differences exist in all of us, but personality disorders are characterised by persistent patterns of unusually intense reactions to the people you come in contact with. Click here for more.
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Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders (ED"s) are becoming more and more prevalent in our society across all age groups, cultures, and gender identities. Anorexia, Bulimia, Body-Dysmorphia, binge-eating and excessive exercise are all complicated, but treatable conditions.
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Infertility and Parenting issues?
Talk-therapy has been proven to help people who are experiencing issues around infertility. Stress, guilt, anxiety, tension within the relationship, and feelings of depression and isolation are all characteristics that need careful processing. In addition, parenting - with its ups and downs - sometimes presents us with challenges that are beyond our reach.
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PTSD and Phobias?
In the last few decades, there has been a greater focus on treating the symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and/or phobias. We have learned that PTSD is not necessarily war-related, but commonly experienced by anyone who has endured or witnessed a trauma. Click here to read more.
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Chronic Pain?
Therapists frequently see patients in their practices who struggle with issues of chronic physical pain. These clients require an environment that allows them to talk about their pain and feel supported while simultaneously being encouraged to develop a meaningful life alongside their pain.
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LGBTQIA+ Issues?
For lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trasngender, queer, intersex, asexual + people, therapy can provide an open, safe, and inclusive space. Research shows that discrimination against the LGBTQAI+ communities exists - even in countries that are seemingly tolerant, like NZ. Individualised therapy can help you understand the feelings associated with one's sexual or gender orientation.
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Coping with Grief or Terminal Illness?
Older frameworks of how people grieve have recently been replaced by more individualistic models. Meaning - no two people grieve the same way, and therapy acknowledges this new science. Therapy is crucial in the grieving process (when our emotions become uncontrollable) and life - as we know it - changes completely.
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Coping with Disabilities?
Living with, or with someone who has a disability, can greatly alter the way we see the world. Discrimination, isolation, ableism, on top of the day-to-day elements of living with a disability, can put additional pressure on a person and their family. Talking through some of these feelings can really help. Click here for more.
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Artistic and Spiritual concerns?
Most of us have a relationship with creativity and/or spirituality, and sometimes these relationships can get complicated. Those in the creative/performance/arts world may be subject to criticism or scrutiny; perhaps you're suffering from an artistic block, or questioning your passion. Spirituality has its issues too. Talking through some of these problems can be tricky (perhaps biased) within your spiritual and creative communities, so seeking the help of an unbiased professional therapist is optimal. Click here for more.