What you can do to help...
Posted: Sep 29, 2015 in September 2015
Dr. Judith Beck recently addressed this very common question. I receive a number of phone calls and emails from concerned friends/spouses/family members. Here are some of her suggestions if you find yourself in this situation:
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Consider the effectiveness of the intervention. Some people conjure up an image of lying on a couch and dissecting their childhood in excruciating detail when they think about Psychotherapy. Indeed, Psychotherapeutic interventions have changed a great deal since Freudian times. More current approaches are present focused with a problem solving emphasis. In addition, some approaches (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) are evidence based and have a large body of literature supporting their efficacy for a number of diagnoses.
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Therapy doesn’t have to be a major commitment. Your friend/loved one/family member can always try a few sessions before deciding if their therapist is a good fit for them.
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Consider therapy as an experiment. What is the hypothesis about what will transpire? Use the opportunity to measure the evidence in support of your loved one/family member/friend’s hypothesis(es) against evidence to the contrary.
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Encourage your family member/friend/loved one to express their concerns to their therapist. It is always helpful for me to understand my patient/client’s concerns and doubts so we can decide together if the treatment is the right fit.
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Therapy is an investment. Most communities offer low cost or sliding scale options if your loved one/family member/friend doesn’t have access to insurance.