Therapy is often seen merely as a solution to “work through specific issues”. Yet the true value of therapy and the unique skills of the psychologist are much less recognized. Let’s take a closer look at the therapy room, first by defining therapy itself:
Therapy is a process of psychological transformation—learning new modes of thinking, feeling, and behaving. In my practice, I find that good therapy promotes a collaboration that leads to clarity, informed and confident decision-making, and in turn, a happier, more fulfilling life.
Central to this transformative process are the skills of the psychologist. I act as a guide in facilitating learning, and use a toolkit to help you make meaningful progress. Here are some of the tools I may use in clinical practice, based on clinical experience, training, and my understanding of the research.
- Clinical skills such as collaboration/goal consensus, active listening, and empathy, which have shown to be effective in improving therapeutic outcomes (i.e., fostering psychological transformation).
- Clinical techniques such as Socratic questioning and collaborative problem-solving, to help you organize and critically examine thoughts and concerns.
- Expert problem-solving (CBT therapy): Science-based frameworks and principles to guide through the problem-solving process from problem definition to solution implementation.
- Cutting-edge knowledge of psychological research: A psychologist may make personalized science-based recommendations, as needed, to help you navigate problems. For example, a concerned parent of a suicidal teen may benefit from knowledge on the risk factors and effective interventions for teen suicidality.
- Experiments: A psychologist leads you through thought or behavioural experiments to transform patterns of thought, emotion, and action by introducing new insights, thereby refining decision-making. Tracking tools such as logs and worksheets are used to enhance learning. The psychologist collaborates with you in all stages of the experiment, from hypothesis generation to implementation and tweaking of the experiment, relying on their clinical experience, understanding of your circumstances, and knowledge of the mechanisms that foster psychological well-being.
- Decision-making frameworks and principles: Research in decision sciences show that we often falter in our decisions, swayed by irrelevant details or missing out on critical information, with our instincts sometimes leading us astray due to inherent biases. Decision-making can be especially difficult when we feel intense emotions. Recognizing human limitations in decision-making, therapy also focuses on improving this essential skill.
Ultimately, therapy is learning something new about yourself and the world around you. This will involve “working through” and will require hard work, but you’re not alone. A collaboration can help foster meaningful and significant progress toward your goals. I bring a set of tools based on my clinical experience and training and a listening ear to personalize the therapy to your circumstances. You’re the expert of your problems, and you bring openness and hard work to make things happen! Together, my goal is to empower you to take these tools and enact the changes needed to lead a more fulfilling life.For more information on the roles of the psychologist, refer to the Order of Psych