Psychotherapy is bound by the rules of confidentiality. Only you can release your health records to an outsider. 

Psychotherapy often begins by you describing the issue that led you to seek help. But you will also talk about your background, the history of your problems and life, and how you tried to address the concerns.

Psychotherapy is typically an interactive, collaborative process based on dialogue and the patient's active engagement in joint goal setting and problem-solving with the psychologist. 

Your psychologist's goal is not to keep you on as a client forever but to empower you to function better on your own.

Everyone moves at a different pace during psychotherapy — it’s a very individualized process. 

Whatever the reason, anyone can benefit from psychotherapy and become a better problem solver.

The stigma connected to going to psychotherapy used to stop many from seeking help. But that has been changing as researchers continue to find evidence that emotional issues can generate physical symptoms and that physical issues may lead to emotional issues. 

Psychotherapy is not like talking to a friend. Although important, support from loved ones doesn’t offer the same benefits a professional with specialized education, training and experience does. 

Psychologists can recognize behavior or thought patterns more objectively and advise better than those close to you. Plus, you can be completely honest with your psychologist on the certainty of their confidentiality.