Marianne Herzog, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
484-393-5886
PSYCHOTHERAPY
WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?
My view of psychology—which is the study of our thoughts, emotions, and behavior—is that it provides information that we all need to know. A psychological perspective helps us to get to know ourselves and answer the questions, who am I? what is important to me? what do I need? what can I offer? It teaches us to observe and understand the connections between our thoughts and emotions, and how these influence our behavior. With more self-knowledge, we can make more intentional choices in our decisions and behaviors. The insights gained from engaging in psychotherapy and in self-reflection can also help us to understand and be more open to the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of others, helping us in our relationships by relating in a more open and genuine way and with a more accepting attitude about the feelings and perspectives of others.
Nobody taught you this. We unfortunately are not provided many opportunities to engage in this process of learning about ourselves and others in a way that helps us with relationships and taking actions in life that will lead to more personal fulfillment and less distress. In my experience, many people hear the words associated with seeking professional help with emotional and behavioral difficulties they are experiencing-- like “mental health,” “psychologist,” “therapy,” and others, as something that is only required if one is defective or deficient in some way (“crazy,” for example). I find that people often think that therapy is a way to find out “what’s really wrong with me,” so that the process would be one of uncovering the person’s true—and, in some way, deficient or flawed—self.
Getting to know and feel good about yourself is what it is all about. In actuality, the goal of therapy, in my way of thinking, is to increase a person’s understanding and insight into the reasons for their suffering and to discover and support their natural insight and problem-solving strengths and skills, which results in a more positive and accepting attitude toward themselves. When you are more able to be compassionate toward yourself and accept that the ways you have been solving problems make sense, even though they are not working currently, and that what you have been doing is the very best that you can do at this moment, it is actually easier to change your ways of coping and to develop skills that will help you to heal and move forward in directions that are beneficial and emotionally satisfying.
Learn to think psychologically to find solutions. My belief--and hope--is that, in working in therapy, you are able to learn how to think about issues from a psychological perspective. Through this, you will come to recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that are not benefiting you, and find ways that help you get better at living life the way you want it to be.
PSYCHOTHERAPY IS COLLABORATIVE
When I work with you in therapy, I think of us as partners. During this process, I use my skills as a psychologist and therapist to guide our discussions so they are fruitful and lead us to ways out of your struggles that make sense for you. I offer my perspective and assessment of what factors are influencing the difficulty you are bringing to therapy, based on my education and experience, and offer suggestions for certain strategies that can alleviate your struggles. For your part, to get the most out of therapy, it is important that you engage to the best of your ability during your sessions, including raising any ideas or concerns you may have about how the process is going. I may also ask you to think about or do certain things between sessions that can assist in understanding or to practice new skills.
I believe that the quality of the therapeutic relationship, itself, is crucial in helping you come to self-understanding that can open the way to personal growth, change, and less suffering--and to a more resilient, accepting, and compassionate approach to life’s challenges.
I encourage and initiate discussion of how the therapeutic relationship and process is going, and of any changes that are needed to insure that it is being helpfully focused and productive. It is important that you share your perspective on what is and is not going well in our process together.
YOU IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR LIFE
We will identify and come to understand the influences -- family; community; racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and cultural identity; workplace; and personal relationships -- on your development and the difficulties you are having, and the most helpful paths toward change. In this way, you will find your own creative solutions for your life right now.
MY APPROACH IN MY ROLE AS PSYCHOTHERAPIST
I am an active participant in sessions. I don't sit back and "just listen." I do, of course, listen carefully and there may be long periods where you are sharing your experiences and perspectives at length, but I will also provide feedback, my therapeutic perspective, and ideas for change. My approach to my therapeutic work has always been grounded in the idea of the mind and body being interconnected, providing both information and the means to create change in the therapeutic process. Along with using other theoretical and research-based perspectives of human behavior and psychotherapy, this integrated understanding of the mind-body is basic to my approach.
