Therapy FAQs | Theodoros Tsirigotis

How frequent are the sessions?

One hour of therapy once a week is optimum. Of course, there will be some weeks when you will not be able to come but, ideally, regular attendance provides a sense of purpose and continuity. The intervening seven days provide an ideal length of time to reflect on what has been discussed in the session. I am also prepared to work on a fortnightly basis, subject to negotiation.

How do I get the most out of the experience?

Therapy works best when the client takes an active role in the process. This is different from the medical model in which the health professional takes charge of the treatment. Successful therapy is collaborative and requires input and commitment from both parties.

How long will it take?

This is a difficult question to answer. It depends on what you want to achieve. The greater the personal development you desire, the more time is required to achieve it, on the whole. Some people undertake a short course of 12 sessions. This is enough time to develop insight and generate some strategies for managing your problems. Those wishing to address their underlying issues at a deeper level may require longer. Some people come to therapy for several months, some for several years. I offer both short and long-term therapy. Each person is different and we can discuss what may be most suitable for you during the initial assessment.

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

Some people take to therapy quite quickly while others may be less sure. It is important that you take a personal decision about whether it is right for you. Therapy is not the only way to make changes in your life and for some people, other paths may be more appropriate. Without experience, it is hard to judge how you will respond. I believe it takes a few sessions to get a feel for the process and to establish a rapport. I suggest an initial six-session trial period, during which time you can decide whether therapy is right for you.

Isn't therapy for people with mental health problems?

Not at all. Twenty-first century therapy is for anyone and everyone. People come for all sorts of reasons. The only requirement is that you wish to make some sort of change in your life.

How is therapy different from talking to my friends?

A therapist can offer an alternative perspective because s/he is not directly involved in your life. Therapists are trained to see the 'bigger picture' of a person's psychology and they may offer suggestions which invite you to think about yourself in new and different ways.

How does it work?

There are many ways to answer this question, and here is one of them: we all have parts of ourselves that we would rather not know or that we try to ignore. This can be for any number of reasons. Ironically it is often these parts that we most need to come to terms with if we want to grow and develop. Therapy helps us do this by acting like a mirror. Your therapist will hold up the mirror in such a way that you may see something new in your reflection. As you examine your reflection and explore these previously 'unknown' parts of yourself, you begin to see yourself differently and more completely. This experience of integration deepens over time and ultimately brings about a change in yourself.