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| Psychotherapy |
 There are great variety of approaches to outpatient psychotherapy and various forms in which it may appear, including individual, group and family psychotherapy. In spite of the variations, all psychotherapy is a two-way process that works especially well when patients and their therapists communicate openly. Research has shown that the results of psychotherapy are improved when the therapist and patient agree early about what the main problems are and how psychotherapy can help.
You and your therapist both have to establish and maintain a good working relationship. Make clear with your therapist about your expectations and share any concerns that may occur. If you want to improve the results of psychotherapy you need to attend all scheduled sessions and give some forethought to what you want to discuss during each one.
You should establish clear goals with your therapist, as you begin psychotherapy. Perhaps you want to overcome feelings of despair associated with depression. Or maybe you would like to control a fear that destroys your daily life. Remember that certain tasks require more time to accomplish than others. You may need to adjust some of your goals depending on how long you plan to be in psychotherapy.
After a few procedures, it's a good sign if you feel the experience is truly a joint effort and that you and the therapist enjoy a good rapport. On the other hand, you should be open with your therapist if you find yourself feeling "stuck" or lacking direction once you've been in psychotherapy awhile.
Sometimes a therapist may appear cold and indifferent or doesn't seem to treat you positively. Tell your therapist about it, or if you question other aspects of his or her approach. If you find yourself thinking about stopping psychotherapy, speak to your therapist. It might be useful to consult another professional, provided you let your therapist know you are seeking a second opinion.
During psychotherapy patients often feel a wide range of emotions. Some qualms about psychotherapy that people may have result from the difficulty of discussing painful and troubling experiences. When this happens, it can actually be a positive sign demonstrating that you are beginning to explore your thoughts and behaviors.
You should spend time with your therapist periodically showing your progress (or your concern that you are not making essential progress). Although there are other considerations influencing the duration of psychotherapy, success in reaching your primary goals should be a major factor in deciding when your psychotherapy should end. Psychotherapy isn't easy, but patients who want to work in close partnership with their therapists often feel relieved from their emotional distress and start to lead more productive and satisfying lives.
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