by Daryl James

Created on: August 01, 2008

Assuming that you've successfully crossed through the valley of uncertainty, scaled the mountains of excuses, and made the commitment to enter into therapy, congratulations, but there are some things you'll need to know.

First, know why you're there. It's not a matter of success in therapy. It's a matter of growth. Personal growth is the yardstick by which all therapy is measured. What personal growth are you seeking? What types of changes are you trying to make to your personality, your interpersonal skills, your thought patterns? Knowing the reason(s) you have decided to try therapy and maintaining cognizance of this is the cornerstone upon which positive personal change is built.

Once you truly know and understand why you are in therapy, what your goals are, you'll need to develop and maintain a humble and willing spirit. Even though the entire experience of therapy is actually about you, you must remember that you are still the servant of the truth that you discover. When you are humble, you can begin to recognize your weaknesses, your cognitive and interpersonal stumbling blocks. You can start to identify the areas in your life that require the work necessary for the change you seek. Adding willingness to this allows you to approach new and greater possibilities for self-awareness. Be sure to remain open and submit yourself to the process, and your results will increase exponentially.

Therapy, as the life it seeks to explore, can be a confusing and meandering path to self, and for this reason, you must remain vigilantly attentive. Be prepared for your sessions by keeping a list of things to discuss. Be involved in your sessions by taking notes on what's discussed. Be reflective of your sessions by taking the time immediately following to review what was discussed, when it's most fresh in your mind. Therapy is not just a once a week or once a month meeting with a professional listener, it's an unending cycle of question and answer that doesn't fall neatly into 50 minute increments. Being attentive to the entire scope of your quest through preparation, involvement and reflection will certainly concentrate the end of your counseling means.

While reason, humility, willingness and attention are all keys to getting the most out of therapy sessions, the critical factor is honesty. Everything else simply leads up to the moment of decision that offers breakthrough. Honesty is the trade wind that helps to push you along into the greatest self-discovery. It is the active ingredient that causes a reaction to your internal circumstances. If you are not honest with first, yourself, and second, your therapist, all of the efforts spent approaching the aha' of truth have been wasted.

So - good for you if you've decided to make a change, and good for you if you now understand what it takes to bring about that change: reason, humility, willingness, attention and most importantly, honesty. Best of luck for a life fulfilled.

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