Out & About January 2018

OA mental health

New Year

time for a change?

DR JANA JENKINS explains why therapy empowers you and helps you to understand yourself P erhaps you are someone who has been putting off therapy for some time and your New Year resolution is to make helping you make sense of your difficulties in a collaborative way. It may be helpful to think that you are the expert on your difficulties and

changes in your life. I would encourage anyone who can benefit from talking to give it a try. Everyone and anyone can benefit from therapy, just think of it as a safe space to talk and explore what’s going on for you. One of the most damaging preconceptions is that therapy is a sign of vulnerability. I always say to my clients that it is the exact opposite, it takes a lot of courage to be in therapy, look at your fears, hopes and discuss your wish to change. Therapy can be helpful for people from all walks of life. Thinking about entering therapy can feel daunting, especially if you have no previous experience of seeing a therapist. Many questions may surface in your mind, such as What if I do not like a therapist? What if they are unable to help? What if they do not understand or judge me? Please be assured that these worries are very common and understandable. Therapists understand and respect that you are letting them into your internal world and you may be a private person who does not find talking about your difficulties and feelings easy. You may feel embarrassment or even experience shame about asking for help and if funding private therapy, feel guilty about spending money on yourself. You may be blaming yourself for ‘not coping’ and feeling ‘overwhelmed’. Good therapy involves treating you as a unique individual, with a therapist

how they impact on your life, whereas your therapist is an expert on how to identify your needs and help you. In therapy you are an active participant and your motivation for change is important. Good therapy can also increase your self-awareness and provide you with a better understanding of the causes of your distress and which factors maintain or sustain it. It can also teach you coping strategies to manage your distress and build resilience. In this process, a good therapeutic relationship is paramount, therefore if you are not comfortable with your therapist, you should not hesitate to choose another therapist you feel more at ease with. My key message is to persevere and find a therapist who can facilitate change. Another observation that I would like to share with you is that sometimes people feel that they do not deserve therapy as they believe that other people are worse off or it is selfish to talk about oneself. What might help you to challenge this belief is to know that human distress lies on a continuum and comparing the intensity of suffering is not helpful. Many people I meet are initially ambivalent about starting therapy and there are people who ‘do not believe in therapy’. However, how do you know that therapy is not for you? Understandably, you may have certain preconceptions and feel unsure or even fearful. My advice is to try one session and see how it is for you.

DR JANA JENKINS CPSYCHOL, BSc Hons, AFBPsS Chartered Clinical Psychologist Clinical Director of Key Therapy Associates Limited 07544 752667 www.westberksclinicalpsychologist.co.uk www.keytherapyassociates.co.uk

Let’s talk

Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you are feeling, talking through what’s going on with a professional can help. We are a dedicated team of counsellors, cognitive behavioural therapists, psychologists and psychotherapists. Whatever you’d like to talk about, we are here to listen. • Adults, young people and children • Couples and families • Workshops and therapy groups • Trainees and supervision • Range of prices £35.00 – £90.00 per session • Open 7 days a week including evenings The Key to Hope. Change. Empowerment.

If you’d like to book an appointment or have any questions, please call on 07544 752 667 or email us at enquiries@keytherapyassociates.co.uk We are also happy to set up an initial free consultation.

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