FAQ

I only use Yoga and Buddhism in their philosophical aspects in therapy (making it compatible with whatever religious or spiritual background you may have). This means that I approach our work in a growth-oriented manner by fostering a healthy inner attitude toward life. This contrasts with Western Medicine, which sometimes (but not all the time) focuses on stopping the immediate problem or diagnosis, but not so much on human growth. At times, I do use methods from Yoga and Buddhism, as well, such as learning to create a healthy detachment (i.e., not too much or too little) from your difficulties (these methods are becoming increasingly popular and are recognized as effective in our present healthcare system1).

Counseling Psychology is more similar to Clinical Psychology than it is different, but its points of emphasis include focusing on the general population rather than severe mental illness, seeing people’s cultural background as being important to healing, and considering how systemic factors (like discrimination at the societal level) could impact one’s mental health.

Therapy, counseling, and psychotherapy are the same thing. It is a safe space for you to reflect upon yourself as a person when you want to take ownership of the problems you are facing in your life. When you are tired of some outside event or person having such a big impact on your mood, it is a space to examine why you are susceptible to its impact and what you can do to minimize it or even eliminate it. This can make you stronger and more resilient in the face of future obstacles in your life. 

A friend or family member has the freedom to share your problems with other people, while a therapist is ethically bound to keep everything you discuss completely confidential (except for a few very specific instances). In addition, a therapist has no outside contact with you or anyone you know, limiting the amount of bias in their perspective and keeping their focus solely on your personal needs. Finally, a counselor or therapist is specially trained in interventions and understanding of psychology to maximize your psychological growth.

Yes. Counseling has been thoroughly researched and has been shown to be very effective. Below is a very brief summary of the research evidence.

“The weight of quantitative studies consistently produces an effect size of about 0.8 standard deviations, which means the average treated person is better off than 80% of those who do not have the benefit of treatment” (p. 27).2

“Indeed, psychotherapy is as or more effective than many medical treatments highlighted in reviews of evidence-based practices in medicine, including many interventions in cardiology, geriatric medicine, and asthma as well as aspirin as a prophylaxis for heart attacks, the influenza vaccine, and cataract surgery. Moreover, psychotherapy typically is as effective as drug treatments for emotional problems and is more enduring and creates less resistance to multiple administrations than drugs” (p. 55).3

“When such findings are contrasted with results widely heralded as advances in the medical arena, psychotherapy yields significant benefits hand over fist. Rosenthal (1990) pointed out, for instance, that the large-scale clinical trial of aspirin as a prophylaxis for heart attacks produced an effect size of .03 (compared with .80 for psychotherapy as a treatment for mental health problems)” (p. 28).2

Research has demonstrated that, contrary to popular belief (e.g., it is a myth that CBT is the most effective form of therapy; rather, it is the most researched), that all legitimate forms of counseling are equally effective.3 There are other factors in counseling that are even more important than the approach, such as the client/patient4 and the therapeutic alliance5 (i.e., how well you and your counselor get along and feel in sync). The most important thing is finding the approach that is the right match for you as an individual.

Yes. A meta-analysis (analyzing 7 studies of counseling) published in 20216 and a study published in 20237 showed that doing counseling in person and online were equivalent. This was true for a variety of mental health conditions. It also appears to be true for a number of other medical disciplines, as well.6

Counseling is a space for you to talk openly about problems in a way that feels comfortable to you and is at your own pace. By talking about your problems in a supportive space, your therapist will help you gradually increase in self-awareness about various patterns (e.g., things learned in your family or society, habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and acting) and, through your increased self-awareness, help you generate new, more liberating ways of being (e.g., thinking more healthily, assertive communication with others). This can lead to personal growth and increased power, poise, and confidence in your life.

Counseling is individually tailored to each client’s needs. This includes all the things that make your experience of the world unique, such as your gender, sexuality, religion, able-bodied-ness, residential status, race, and ethnicity, amongst others. You are in charge of what you discuss in counseling and your therapist should be able to follow that, including your unique cultural intricacies.