Psychotherapy refers to the concept of “talk therapy”. The process involves an intake where you and your therapist will develop a clear understanding of your background and current situation that prompted you to seek therapy. It is this understanding of your history and present life dynamics that a service plan is developed.

The service plan involves goals for the work you want to do in therapy as well as a framework for how you and your therapist will together work towards these goals. This plan may be written down or communicated verbally. It is progress towards these goals that determines the course of therapy. The approach that is used depends on the needs of each individual client. Some examples of therapy interventions include cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic therapy, narrative therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy.

Once goals have been reached, treatment will move towards the termination or step-down phase. The work of this phase is to integrate progress. In other words, understand what changes have occurred and how you made these shifts occur. The termination process explores how to sustain and build from the foundation that has been created in therapy. More time is encouraged between sessions so that you have the opportunity to practice and reflect on incorporating your work in therapy into your day-to-day experience.