Project Ember Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely, it is a requirement in therapy (sarcasm included). While yes, there are couches in the office, they are mainly for your comfort in which you may choose to sit or lie down. The concept for laying on a couch in therapy stems from psychoanalytic practice believing that if the client was not facing the therapist they were more open to free association. Free association is essentially where the client is able to talk about their thoughts and feelings without the need to censor what is said or feel as if the therapist were “judging” them should a facial expression or body language be misread. As far as talking about your feelings, that part is also up to you. Some may think it cliché to talk about emotions in therapy but the fact is, our feelings impact our thoughts and the ways in which we interact with others. While there is evidence to prove that learning to express emotions in a healthy way is beneficial, at Project Ember Counseling we believe in client autonomy and letting you decide what we discuss.

There are a few common factors that can be noted with those who have tried therapy before but did not get the desired results they were hoping to achieve…

Timing:

Have you ever been motivated to begin eating healthier or start working out and you had the best of intentions but were unable, for whatever reason, to follow through with your goals? Oftentimes, the process of therapy can have a similar effect. Perhaps you were ready to begin tackling issues of anxiety, depression, marital discord, or finding help for your child, but something didn’t seem to click. You had the best of intentions and wanted to see change but it just didn’t work. This is fairly common and normal. Regardless of the why, timing can play an important part of when you seek help and if you are at a place in life where you are willing and able to receive the help you need and want. At Project Ember Counseling, we want to honor the fact that the “why now,” while important, may not be as critical as what is currently going on in your life.

Therapeutic Relationship:

In counseling, this term refers to how well the client(s) and therapist connect and feel a sense of cohesion. Just like any other relationship, sometimes people just don’t mesh well which makes it difficult to build trust and open up. Perhaps you’ve seen as therapist in the past and despite their credentials and knowledge on various issues, their personality or approach wasn’t right for you. That’s totally okay. As the client, you have the right to find a professional you feel comfortable meeting with and opening up to. If I could encourage anything it would be this, don’t let one or two unfavorable occurrences turn you off to what could be an advantageous experience.

Yes, there are many people who possess the ability to recognize when they are struggling, can maintain objectivity, and have adequate resources to work through whatever they are facing. However, there are times when having an unbiased observer who is trained to look for interpersonal and relational issues can be beneficial. Another aspect that makes self-therapy difficult, especially in relationship with a significant other or family member, is because of the emotional proximity to the individual(s), making it difficult to be impartial. Even as a therapist, I may know all the “right” answers or things I “should” do when conflict arises with my spouse or children, but due to how close I am to them and the situation, I’m not always able to remain neutral or operate out of sound reason. After reading this if you’re still not sure if therapy is for you, please call for a free phone consultation (719) 246-5693