Reasons to SEEK OUT THERAPY: Therapists IN CHICAGO AND SKOKIE

Whether this is your first time considering therapy or you are returning to therapy, it can sometimes feel unclear if the counseling/ therapy experience is right for you. Many of our clients are uncertain and ambivalent about starting therapy and have doubts. We find it useful to explore this together and encourage you to voice any concerns you have to your therapist during your initial consultation session. We welcome questions and mixed feelings about the process.

The majority of our therapy clients are adults who are looking to manage anxiety and depression symptoms, navigate transition times, “work on themselves”, improve connections and relational skills, and process trauma or grief. We also find that many therapy clients come to therapy for reasons that are less clearly articulated but no less important.

Examples of this include having a vague sense of something feeling “off” or “not right,” feelings of emptiness and loneliness that are consistent throughout life, feelings of being pervasively misunderstood, a sense of not knowing yourself or why you behave in the ways you do, finding yourself stuck in repeating patterns that cause suffering and distress, and wanting to know yourself better. We all have blind spots and areas of ourselves that are unconscious. Therapy can help to clarify, organize, and illuminate.

THERAPISTS IN CHICAGO AND SKOKIE

THE THERAPY PROCESS: HOW DOES THERAPY START?

After we confirm if you plan to use insurance and determine anticipated out of pocket costs, we will connect you with a therapist. That therapist will confirm a weekly or biweekly opening that matches with your availability and then schedule an initial consultation session. This initial session is an opportunity for you to determine if the therapist feels like the right fit for you and for the therapist to explore if their areas of expertise address your therapy needs. For some people the “click” with a therapist happens right away and they feel confident about settling into the process. Others aren’t sure and take multiple sessions to determine whether or not they want to move forward. There is no wrong way to begin therapy.

The formal “assessment” stage of therapy typically lasts for 1-3 sessions, but in the way that all people are ever changing and developing, “assessment” is also ongoing. Your therapist will determine what diagnosis is most appropriate and embark on a plan for treatment that fits your needs and goal.

What should I talk about in the first session?

The first session is the beginning. You likely won’t be able to cover all the details of your history, symptoms, and parts of yourself that you want the therapist to know about. It is helpful to learn about what is leading to seek out therapy at this time (why now?), the goals that you have for therapy and aspects of your life that you wish were different, any symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health struggles that you have, and details about your history of attachment, relationships, mental healthy struggles, therapy experiences, formative events, and traumas.

The golden rule of therapy is to say whatever comes to mind. In the same way that there is no wrong way to start therapy, there is also no wrong thing to say in therapy.

How do I know if a therapist is the right fit for me?

The quality of the "fit" between therapist and client is a critical aspect of the treatment process. Research has shown that the most impactful aspect of a therapy experience is the therapeutic relationship itself. We encourage you to consider the following when thinking about this aspect of the therapy process:

Personality: Do you like the therapist? Are they someone that you could imagine enjoying talking to?
Therapy style: Each of our therapist bio pages include details about their therapy style including direct, warm, positive, structured. You may find that certain styles work better for you. To learn more about each of our therapists, visit Our Therapists Page.
Therapeutic Approach: To learn more about various therapeutic approaches visit our Therapeutic Approaches Page.
Your particular needs/ symptoms: Your therapist should be trained to work with your specific symptoms and needs. To learn more about areas of specialty and expertise visit Our Specialties Page.

Sometimes you don't know what will be right for you until you try. We encourage all of our clients to be open with your therapist if you think that a different provider would work better for you/ your needs. Your therapist will also check in with you about this after the initial session and assessment period. We are more than happy to help connect you to a different therapist if the first therapist you meet with is not the right fit for you. If you'd like to discuss therapist options with our practice manager feel free to reach out directly to Alissa Rotblatt, LCSW at admin@northshorepsychotherapy.com or 847.686.1158.

Each individual’s therapeutic journey is unique. Our trained therapists work closely with clients to determine the best approach for their needs, ensuring a compassionate and effective path toward healing.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to learn more about how our therapy services can support you and which therapist will be the best fit for you.

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North Shore Psychotherapy

North Shore Psychotherapy

Reasons to SEEK OUT THERAPY: Therapists IN CHICAGO AND SKOKIE

WHEN TO SEEK THERAPY

People seek out a variety of different types of therapy, including:

THE THERAPY PROCESS: HOW DOES THERAPY START?

What should I talk about in the first session?

How do I know if a therapist is the right fit for me?