Intro to Therapy
10 important points about Dr. Domian's psychotherapy
with individuals and couples
- I treat the psychological components of problems as opposed to a behavioral or medication
approach. I work with some patients for one or two sessions and with others
weekly, even daily, as the problems dictate. My training includes the ability
to work with long-standing complex issues in individuals or couples.
- Patients do not have to come to the session prepared to work on a particular problem. It is
your session and many patients come to therapy unclear as to what is exactly
going on.
- I will give you my ideas on what I am seeing as we go along. That way you can use my ideas to clarify
whether or not what I am saying seems accurate or helpful in developing the
problem further.
- As a general rule, I do not use paper and pencil assessments as part of the therapy. I encourage patients to
begin talking about why they came, and the precipitating event that led them to
call me. If past history is relevant, it will come up naturally over the course
of the sessions.
- Emotional states like anxiety and depression are always about something. It is a matter of unpacking what the anxiety and depression mean. The only way to do this is to develop the problem through dialogue without
prejudging what particular thoughts and feelings are all about.
- All symptoms are lack of voice. This is another way of stating
point 5, but is worth emphasizing. Psychological symptoms are signs that there is something troubling the patient
that he or she has been unable to put into words.
- The criterion for successful therapy is that the patient feels relief with insight into their
problem and a new way to think about themselves. No relief means that we have not yet found
words for the psychological meaning of the problem.
- I have received intensive training so that I can work with the same partners individually or as
a couple. It is important to understand that whatever is said in individual
sessions is confidential. It is up to you what you tell your partner.
- As with individuals, I explain my theory on what I am hearing that is going on in the couple
relationship early in the sessions. This gives partners a quick understanding
of what I am thinking so that they can clarify together if what I am
saying sheds light on the couple dynamic and problem.
- It is important to note that I emphasize relationships and look closely at interpersonal
interactions. While sometimes challenging for patients, complex psychological
and intimacy issues are why many people seek my services.Patients certainly may seek a second opinion
or discontinue our relationship at any time.
Please visit
the articles page for more perspective on my approach to psychotherapy.
