Before I answer this question, I would like to tell you a story of the lotus flower.
At the beginning of its existence, the lotus seed lies beneath dense mud. The seed, still underneath the mud, turns into a bud. When the time is right and the bud is ready, it begins to climb through the mucky waters towards the surface. As it reaches the sun on the surface of the water, it blossoms into a beautiful flower – and despite all the mud, it is sparkling clean.
I believe that our own healing and growth can look a little bit like that too. Sometimes we have to start at the bottom and move through muddy waters before we reach the surface of water and blossom. Counselling and psychotherapy can support us and guide us through this process. Sometimes we simply all need a little bit of support or guidance to be able to heal.
What does counselling and psychotherapy do?
During counselling and psychotherapy sessions, we meet together once a week to talk together and explore what you’re experiencing, and what troubles you. We may dive deeper into some areas and do a little bit of “investigative” work. We might focus on your present challenges and issues, explore your hopes for the outcomes of therapy, discuss your family and relationships, and explore your own story.
We will work on the level of thoughts, emotions and physical presence (body). When talking is one of the most powerful, and common tools that therapy offers, there are many other things that can happen during the therapeutic process. We might introduce experiments, or exercises from the world of body psychotherapy, CBT, or mindfulness to support the therapeutic process. Some of these might feel good, others challenging, so we will explore it together and find what works for you.
The length of the therapeutic process is an individual matter and depends on your needs and wants. Short-term therapy, often referred to as counselling, usually takes around 8 to 12 weeks, though it can be extended. This type of therapy focuses more on a specific issue or a challenge and is not designed to dive into deeper layers of ourselves. Psychotherapy, or long-term therapy, can last from several months to years. This type of therapy is slower, so it allows more space to explore things in more depth.
Towards the end of the therapeutic process, when our work together will be coming to an end, we will review our process together, explore the experience of this ending, and look at how you may bring all your new learnings and insights into the future with you.
If you have any questions about counselling and psychotherapy, you can message me at joannalangier@gmail.com