Week after week, you may ‘see’ your counselor or therapist in his/her office or online platform, outpouring your emotions. You may wonder: Is your counseling or therapy working, or not? For one, talking to your therapist is a good sign.

The improving manifestations could mean that you are on the right track, but it often is not hundred percent definite that all is well in a short period of time. Lasting changes may need more time, this may vary between individuals. The success of a therapy may depend on a number of factors, such as the clinical strategy being used by the therapist, the frequency of therapy, the trust and connection between you and your therapist, the depth at which issues are being discussed, and your level of awareness, and perception and understanding. In addition, the manner by which the foundation of the therapy is laid can make a difference.

Setting the Foundation

Studies show that the most important thing that influences the success of your counseling or therapy is the quality of your relationship and interactions with your counselor/therapist. How do you know you have the right-fit therapist? He/she should be someone with whom you can share your thoughts, even when it isn’t exactly the right thing to say or think. Your counselor should be someone with whom you feel comfortable.

For any of these things to happen, TRUST must be there. You should be able to trust your counselor. Liking your counselor is crucial, because if you don’t trust, like or respect them, the therapy won’t be effective.

In addition, it would be important to set your goals and objectives at the beginning of the sessions. Revisiting the goals regularly can help track your progress. If these are not being attained, revising the goals would be beneficial to reflect the treatment plan.

Tracking Your Improvement

Counseling or therapy should bring about a change in you and how you interact with others. To track your progress in therapy, you may need to ask yourself these eight questions:

1. Am I starting to feel more positive? Is the feeling of bleakness dissipating?

2. Could I hear my counselor’s reasonable perspective of the situation even when I am not having a session or whenever I am faced with a difficult situation?

3. Do I now see new ways of doing things or am I now thinking new ideas? Do I call a loved one or a friend whenever I am distressed or feeling hopeless, instead of secluding myself?

4. Am I welcoming new kinds of risks because I am embracing new lifestyle patterns?

5. Am I enjoying my relationships, so that I am happier and feeling more content?

6. Is my counselor doing more than just saying “YES” all the time, without really understanding a word I am saying? Is he/she really listening, offering guidance because he/she truly cares?

7. Is he/she providing me with pertinent resources and strategies to utilize in my life? Am I really applying them in my life because I trust him/her?

8. Am I experiencing improved resilience and the capacity to bounce back after I encounter difficulties in life? Is my environment conducive for change?

Psychologist Dr, Mark Steinberg says that “Therapy isn’t about advice; it’s about helping you figure out what feels most authentic.” The goal of therapy is to help you become good at decision-making. This means that if you will find yourself in a crossroad, you must trust your personal intuition in choosing the direction to take. “… that’s a sign of effective therapy.”

Finding the right counselor can be a trial and error process. Shorten the process. Contact us – Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC, the sooner, the better. You and your therapist have much to talk about. Some of which are about your options. You have the option to go for in-person/face-to-face (FTF) or for online counseling, otherwise called as teletherapy or telemental health. So what shall it be. Call us today for your appointment with an independently contracted licensed therapist at CCS.