What are the phases of psychotherapy?
There are generally three phases of the therapy process: assessment, resolution, and growth/self-actualization. Many people enter therapy as a response to a personal or professional crisis, e.g., loss of a loved one through death or divorce, depression, anxiety, life stress, inability to cope, etc., or the feeling of being “stuck” in life. Upon entering therapy, the problem is assessed, a history is taken, an impression is formed, a treatment plan is developed, and therapy begins. Most people feel better, more hopeful, after several sessions as a sense of taking control of their lives takes hold. The therapy process continues until a point is reached that they feel back on track. The behavioral and emotional symptoms that were present upon entering therapy are alleviated. They are back to their pre-crisis state of functioning. Some people elect to terminate therapy at this point. However, for those who elect to continue, the growth/self-actualization phase begins. In this phase, the fo
