Individual Psychotherapy

Finding a therapist in New York can be difficult. Hopefully, we can answer any questions you have here, but if you still have questions, feel free to contact us.

Individual psychotherapy is by far the most common type of psychotherapy and what people typically mean when they say that they are "going to therapy." Individual therapy is, as you might have guessed, one-on-one: you and your therapist. For that reason it is highly adaptable. It is the go-to treatment across age ranges (from child therapy and therapy for teens, to busy professionals and parents), and can adapt to fit your specific needs (from social anxiety, to therapy for trauma, to relationship issues).

Other forms of therapy involve one or more people – couples therapy, family therapy, and group therapy – and the focus is not on you but the relationships binding the couple, family, or group together. In this article, we provide a brief overview of what individual psychotherapy is, whether it works, and who it is for.

There are a lot of different types of therapy – some focusing more on skill building and others on understanding the deep roots of cognitions and emotions that maintain negative feelings. Our therapists are trained in several treatment methods. When you reach out to us, we will schedule a free consultation to get a sense of what is going on and which of our therapists you will connect best with. If you don’t feel that the connection works – just let us know and we will find someone who works better.

Does it Work?

The efficacy of psychotherapy is well established at this point.[1] In some cases, psychotherapy is roughly as effective as medication,[2] and research indicates that even many of those who are not initially helped with medication respond to subsequent or combined treatment with psychotherapy.[3]

The efficacy of therapy relies on two factors: your therapist, and you. Your therapist’s competency as a clinician and openness to you are essential to feeling better. That is why at Madison Park we emphasize post-graduate training, research, and supervision. Modelling ourselves after the world’s premier teaching hospitals, our therapists gather monthly for presentations on clinical issues and important research findings. Analogous to grand rounds, these presentations are designed to enhance clinical knowledge and skills and remain up-to-date on current research.

However, the other half of psychotherapy’s efficacy relies on you. Showing up ready to work, open alternative ways of viewing a problem, makes all the difference.

Who is it for?

Therapy is for anyone struggling with emotional challenges, relationship difficulties (including, difficulties finding a relationship), mental health conditions, or problems life is throwing at you. A (once) common misconception was that therapy was only effective for diagnosed mental health disorders. That, however, was more of an expression of prejudicial views of psychotherapy than a considered view or scientific consensus. The Mayo Clinic, for instance, writes that “Not everyone who benefits from psychotherapy is diagnosed with a mental illness. Psychotherapy can help with the stresses and conflicts of life that can affect anyone”[4] and the Cleveland Clinic explains “Psychotherapy can benefit anyone who’s struggling with life’s challenges, excessive stress, adjusting to a new life situation or medical condition and/or who has a mental health or behavioral condition. This includes children, adolescents and adults.”[5]

Psychotherapy isn’t just about symptom remediation, but identifying features of your mental life that prevent you from living the way you want to. Psychotherapy can help you

Understand the structure of your thoughts and feelings, helping you to understand the ways you interact with the world so that you can respond to each new event the way you would like to, rather than merely react in the way that feels natural;

Identify the structure of your values, including the way you value yourself, providing insight into the way you attract and are attracted to people and situations;

Examine your motivations, or lack of motivation, and develop practical skills toward living a more intentional life and achieving your goals;

uncover your attachment style and how learn how to calibrate to your current relationship;

Explore the deep reasons sustaining your negative emotions and leading to patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that cause you pain and learn to decalcify these.

Patients often come to Madison Park repeating behaviors that feel natural to but which result in the same outcomes: getting into the same arguments, dating the same type of partner, working the same type of job. Psychotherapy can help change these patterns. Whether it is therapy for depression, trauma therapy, therapy for anxiety, or work dissatisfaction, relationship difficulties, or an ambient unhappiness, therapy can help you to identify what really matters and work to break the cycle.

[1] American Psychological Association. (2023). Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/understanding

[2] Mayo Clinic. (2023). Psychotherapy. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psychotherapy/about/pac-20384616#:~:text=In%20some%20cases%2C%20psychotherapy%20can,need%20medicines%20or%20other%20treatments.

[3] Guidi, J., Fava, G. A., Fava, M., & Papakostas, G. I. (2011). Efficacy of the sequential integration of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in major depressive disorder: A preliminary meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 41, 321–331.

Thase, M. E., Friedman, E. S., & Biggs, M. M. (2007). Cognitive therapy as a second-step treatment: A STAR*D report. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 739–752.

de Maat, S., Dekker, J., Schoevers, R., van Aalst, G., Gijsbers-van Wijk, G., Hendriksen, M., et al. (2008). Short psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy, antidepressants, and their combination in the treatment of major depression: A mega-analysis based on three randomized clinical trials. Depression and Anxiety, 25, 565–574.

March, J. S., Silva, S., Petrycki, S., Curry, J., Wells, K., Fairbank, J., et al. (2007). The treatment for adolescents with depression study (TADS): Long-term effectiveness and safety outcomes. Archives of Genereral Psychiatry, 64(10), 1132–1143.

[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/psychotherapy/about/pac-20384616#:~:text=Not%20everyone%20who%20benefits%20from,to%20sleep%20or%20staying%20asleep.

[5] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23445-psychotherapy

How long does couples therapy take?

Of course, giving an exact answer to this is impossible, but the duration of of couples therapy will be based on the following: Getting right to work: Couples therapy typically moves a bit quicker than individual therapy, but that relies on couples showing up ready to work. We understand that it can feel uncomfortable to have a third person in the room while you argue, discuss deep areas of resentment and sadness, or uncertainties about the relationship, but it is essential to moving through the the current period into something more productive. Do your homework: Couples therapy often involves homework or assignments to work on or think about in-between sessions. That can feel corny or burdensome on your already overloaded schedule, but it really must be done. Individual therapy: In the course of couples therapy, we will invariably touch on painful topics. Having an understanding of those vulnerabilities and what you are bringing to the table is extremely helpful. Although it is not a necessary prerequisite, individual therapy is often the best place to identify and work on those individual issues.
How soon is too soon for couples therapy?

In general, there is a very low false positive to couples therapy and a very high false negative - that is, if you go to a therapist when you don't really need to, it generally does very little damage, but if you don't go to a therapist and you do need to, it is generally very damaging. Researchers once worried that couples therapy was ineffective because people came to therapy too late, so if you are thinking about couples therapy, it is probably a good time to check it out.
Can we do couples therapy remotely?

The short answer is: Yes, but not at the beginning. Although remote therapy can be very effective, it is important that your therapist is able to see the way you interact with each other, and this involves more than just what you say. As the therapy progresses, remote therapy is no problem, but in-person sessions are preferred.
What if my partner refuses to go to couples therapy?

Therapy has to be a voluntary choice. If your partner has questions about the process and would like to discuss these with your therapist prior to your sessions, they are welcome to do so. If they are unwilling, you are alway welcome to explore your issues in individual therapy.