Psychotherapy

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What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a way to treat people with a mental disorder by helping them understand their illness. It teaches people strategies and gives them tools to deal with stress and unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps patients manage their symptoms better and function at their best in everyday life.

What about medication vs. psychotherapy?

This is a very important question and one that we will talk about in our work together. My hope is that our work together will be enough to bring about significant changes in your life and that your distress will be eased without medication. However, the more we learn about the human brain, the more we understand that a balanced state is the ultimate goal and in some cases, that may mean supplementation is needed. This may come in the way of vitamins, nutrients, or herbs or it may mean that the aid of pharmaceuticals is recommended.

I am always gathering resources to whom I can refer my clients. And we will work in concert to provide you the best and most significant changes possible.

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How can therapy help me?

Participating in therapy can bring tremendous benefits to your life! Therapists can provide proper support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues, etc. Counselors can be a great asset to managing personal growth, improving interpersonal relationships, relieving family concerns, addressing marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem and point you in the direction of a solution.

Some of the benefits include:

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Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values

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Developing skills for improving your relationships

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Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy

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Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety

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Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures

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Improving communications and listening skills

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Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones

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Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family or marriage

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Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Do I really need therapy? I can usually handle my problems.
As we said above, the benefits of therapy are far reaching. If you feel you don’t need assistance, that’s fine. For so many of us, we didn’t have the best opportunities to learn how to handle the challenges of life and we might need the mentoring, guidance, assistance and support of therapy to help us handle problems and create relationships and pathways in our lives that are positive, powerful, and successful. The main reason to get therapy is to have a trained specialist there to give us feedback, understanding and guidance on aspects of our lives that may not be going well. If we could see the issues or the ways we are unsuccessfully responding to the issues, we might be able to help ourselves. Having a partner in this process tremendously increases your ability to understand yourself and learn new ways of being that will bring new results in your relationships, your work opportunities, your family dynamics and all the other places in our lives for which we desire to have different responses.
Why do people go to therapy and how do I know if it is right for me?
People go to therapy for as many different reasons as there are clients. If you feel stuck, unhappy, confused, overly sad, anxious, nervous, misdirected; if your relationships are unhealthy, not happening, unsafe, confusing, complicated, suffering; if you’ve been through a tragic loss and need help grieving and putting your life back together or you need to feel safer and more connected to yourself… All of these are just a few of the reasons that people seek out psychotherapy. And just as there are a myriad of reasons that people seek out therapy, there are many, many therapists to choose from. Look for someone with whom you resonate, who gets you and don’t be concerned if you meet someone and it doesn’t feel like a fit. You may try several therapists before you find the one with whom you feel most safe and productive.
What is therapy like?
Therapy sessions can vary widely depending on the style and training of the therapist. However, it is always a place where you can sit together with your therapist and work out your concerns with complete confidence that your conversation is private and your needs are the sole focus of that time. Most sessions are usually 50 minutes long. My therapy sessions are usually longer 60-75 minutes to insure that we have enough opportunity to fully address your issues.

Get In Touch

    Judy Waters LMFT #48732
     

    Contact me for therapy or book me for a private one-on-one coaching available in person or through Zoom. 

    I am also available as a guest speaker or interview for your programs, companies or groups.

    Call

    (323) 304-2715

    Email

    stillwaterscounseling@gmail.com

    Office Address

    4515 Sherman Oaks Avenue
    Sherman Oaks, CA 91403