Common questions about counseling, therapy, or life coaching in Houston.

It seems as though therapy is slowly becoming more widely discussed in the open (which is a good thing!), but there can still be questions that you may have about whether or not it can help you.

Below are some common questions that frequently come up in my conversations with clients. You may have some of these questions and that is completely normal.

Common questions about online therapy, counseling or life-coaching in Houston.

Question #1: How is talking about what I am going through going to help me?

Not to get all scientific on you, but studies have demonstrated that self-disclosure, or talking about ourselves actually feels good and has positive benefits to some regions of our brain.  In addition to that, it can help reduce stress, develop connections with others and perhaps gain a bit of a new perspective, or even find a way to problem solve.  Of course, this all depends on what you are discussing. In therapy, we won’t only talk about the problem, but also explore what your life would look like when the problem is less.

Question #2: Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Before the pandemic, virtual therapy was being done, but not as frequently as it is now.  With everyone having to shift to online work for a while, it was surprising to find out that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy in many instances, and many have even found it more convenient due to the ease of logging into their appointments without having to travel anywhere or take a huge chunk off of their work day.  Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s effective for everyone, there may be situations where in-person is best, especially if one has challenges utilizing technology or is dealing with more severe forms of mental illness.

Online therapy can also be helpful in allowing persons that may have been too anxious to meet face-to-face initially.

Question #3: What about medications? How do I know if I need them?

Therapists and counselors do not have the ability to prescribe medications, this can only be done through a medical doctor, but sometimes clients have questions about whether they should consider it.  Medications can be helpful in managing some of the symptoms that happen when experiencing depression or anxiety, and it can depend on several factors whether a client decides to try them. These can include how their day-to-day functioning is impacted, how frequently the symptoms are happening, and how intense their symptoms may be. Sometimes therapists may recommend you speak with your doctor about considering medications if they notice that it is difficult for you to participate in the counseling sessions due to these difficulties.

Question #4: What is the difference between a counselor, therapist, or life coach?

There can frequently be some overlap between therapy and life coaching. Therapists and counselors must be licensed to practice, while life coaches do not. This doesn’t necessarily mean that life coaching is not a valuable service, but it tends to focus more on achieving a specific desired result without necessarily exploring your past history and patterns as much as psychotherapy would.

Question #5: How will I know when I no longer need therapy?

My goal is not to have you in therapy forever. Hopefully, during our time together we can together assess the progress you are making compared to when you first started and determine if you feel you are feeling better or are getting closer to some of your desired outcomes.

I hope this helps you find the right therapist in Houston. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at 281-858-3325 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about online therapy.