Individual Therapy
Some things are easier to carry with someone else in the room. At Charis Psychological Services, individual therapy in Johannesburg gives you a private, structured space to work through what is going on, whether that is anxiety, low mood, a difficult diagnosis, or a period of life that has become hard to manage alone.
What Is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is one-on-one work between you and a registered psychologist. Sessions usually run weekly or fortnightly, depending on what suits your circumstances, and focus on understanding a difficulty clearly enough to begin changing your relationship with it. This is a structured process rather than general advice-giving, and it moves at a pace that works for you.
Who Is Individual Therapy For?
People seek out individual therapy for a wide range of reasons, including:
- Anxiety, low mood or persistent stress
- Adjusting to a new medical diagnosis, illness or injury
- Difficulty coping after a major life change
- A general sense of feeling stuck or overwhelmed
What Happens During A Session?
The first session is mostly about understanding your history and what has brought you to therapy. From there, sessions follow a reasonably consistent structure, though the pace and focus shift depending on what comes up. Your psychologist may draw on different therapeutic approaches depending on your situation, and will explain the reasoning as the work progresses.
What Should You Expect Going Forward?
Individual therapy is not a fixed programme with a set number of sessions. Some people attend for a few months to work through a specific difficulty. Others continue for longer, particularly where the underlying concern is complex or ongoing. Your psychologist will discuss the likely course of therapy with you as things develop.
Are Sessions Confidential?
Confidentiality is a standard part of individual therapy, with the specific limits explained clearly during your first session. Understanding how information is handled, and in what limited circumstances it might need to be shared, is part of building trust in the therapeutic relationship.
What Should You Know Before Your First Session?
Sessions generally run for around fifty minutes. It can help to arrive with a general sense of what you would like to talk through, though a detailed plan is not necessary. Your psychologist will guide the conversation from there.