WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy is a collaborative process between you and a trained psychologist, designed to help you develop healthier ways of thinking, feeling, and coping. It offers a safe, supportive space where you can talk openly without judgment.

Therapy isn’t about getting stuck in the past. While understanding how earlier experiences and unmet needs have shaped who you are is important, the focus is on making your life in the present easier. By exploring these past influences with kindness and curiosity, we create space to release old wounds and develop healthier ways of living and relating — right now. The goal is to help you feel more whole, empowered, and connected in your current life, rather than being held back by what happened before.

Through psychotherapy, you learn to identify and change patterns that hold you back, and gain skills to manage current and future challenges. Whether you’re dealing with ongoing struggles like anxiety or depression, navigating life transitions, or facing specific difficulties, therapy can support meaningful change.

When Might Therapy Help?

  • Feeling overwhelmed by sadness, anxiety, or stress
  • Struggling to focus or function in daily life
  • Repeated harmful behaviours such as substance use or aggression
  • Difficulty coping with major life events or relationships

Common Myths about Psychotherapy

  • Only “crazy” people need therapy. Everyone can benefit. Therapy helps with everyday challenges as well as serious issues.
  • Talking to friends is enough. Friends are valuable, but psychologists have specialized training to guide effective healing.
  • I should be able to fix myself. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
  • Therapists just listen to complaints. Therapy is an active, goal-focused process involving practical tools and feedback.
  • Therapy blames your past. While exploring your history can be helpful, therapy also focuses on present solutions.
  • Therapy takes years. Many people notice improvement within a few sessions. The goal is to empower you to thrive independently.
 

Starting therapy can feel daunting, but finding the right psychologist — someone you feel comfortable with — is key. Together, you’ll work toward understanding yourself better, healing old wounds, and making lasting positive changes with kindness and patience.

“The worst kind of sad is not being able to explain why.”