These take place in a private office, and you probably won t be lying down on a couch but sitting in a chair facing the therapist. It might be just you, you and a significant other, or in some cases, your whole family. And depending on the therapist s assessment, the client may be referred to a psychiatrist for medication. A competent therapist is trained in counseling, psychology, or social work. A good therapist is proud of their professional affiliations and won t hesitate to let the client know their status.
Many therapists display their diplomas in their offices.
If you have any doubts, contact your local medical association. The most common emotional disorders, such as depression and anxiety, can be effectively treated by either cognitive or behavioral modalities. Many therapists use a combination of these two types. Cognitive therapy seeks to expose the dysfunctional thought patterns a client may be unconsciously thinking, and to restructure these thoughts into a positive frame. The assumption is that negative thoughts produce negative feelings.