Many people of all ages seek assistance from a therapist for many different reasons. Over 10 million Americans see a therapist each year. People recognize that psychologists have special training in many areas that enable them to help individuals and families struggling with different concerns. Most people contact a psychologist when they have tried other methods of handling problems and things still have not changed for the better. Many people want some guidance and direction in reaching their full potential in their marriage, career, life-long goals, or as a parent.

Unfortunately, we cannot control what others think about our choices, but seeking therapy or counseling is not a sign of weakness or any kind of deficiency. Rather, it indicates strength and courage because you have decided to do something to improve your quality of life with the help of a well-trained professional. Consulting a psychologist should be viewed in the same way as if you were consulting a physician if you thought you might have the flu. Society appears to be shifting in attitudes and perceptions. Many think of therapy and counseling as being responsible for your mental health, the same way routine visits and physicals to your dentist or doctor are viewed as being responsible for your physical health.

Some people still think therapy is only for individuals who are severely disturbed, and think that therapy will not be helpful for their problems. Others have difficulty admitting that they have problems, or that there is someone who can help without judging. Some people are afraid of making changes or doing things differently, because it requires some effort and commitment. Many people think therapists just sit and listen to you talk; they don’t realize that psychologists have years of training in scientific and researched-based models of therapy, counseling, and other types of intervention that have shown considerable success. Others think mental health services are too expensive and not worth the investment when compared to other financial demands.

Therapy, or psychotherapy, refers to more in-depth and long-term processes to understand why we think and act the way we do, to then use a specific approach to change what is not working productively for us. Counseling usually refers to short-term, solution-focused guidance to solve problems, often helping clients come to their own conclusions about what will work better for them. Coaching attempts to improve performance, personally, professionally, or academically, by maximizing strengths, practicing to improve skill deficits, and staying motivated and "on track" to achieve a specific goal.

That depends on the issue at hand. A specific problem, such as a family wanting to improve their communication skills so they can negotiate better and enjoy each other’s company, may take 5 to 15 sessions. Someone diagnosed with depression may want to learn skills to cope with symptoms more easily, for about 12 sessions, and then come once a month for support and monitoring over a long period of time. A child with behavior problems may need about 5 individual sessions to learn new skills and 5 family sessions to help them and their parents develop good consistent habits. Someone who says, "I’ve just never been very happy," will probably need more in-depth therapy and as much as 6 months to several years depending upon individual goals. Someone else may want 2 or 3 sessions of counseling when faced with an important decision. Coaching can be contracted for short or long periods depending upon client goals, such as improving SAT scores, raising grade point averages, or publishing a novel.

We try to help clients achieve their goals in the briefest amount of time possible, and the average is probably 15 to 20 sessions. Some clients require more therapy to reach their desired goals because issues are more complicated or they prefer to work at a more moderate pace. Factors that affect the amount of time spent in therapy include willingness to change, openness to look at things in different ways, commitment to apply new skills, and environmental factors beyond the client’s control.

Dr. Mangum primarily uses a cognitive-behavioral approach, which helps a client identify faulty beliefs, unproductive emotions, and ineffective behaviors in order to replace them with positive, productive, effective beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Clients learn to choose more realistic beliefs and ideas, which helps them recognize their many strengths and feel better about themselves. They begin to feel more effective and capable, which leads to positive changes in choice and behavior. In this approach, the present is of primary importance, much more so than the past.

In addition, Dr. Mangum has training in other forms of therapy and methods, recognizing no one approach works for all problems. He has extensive experience with behavior modification and hypnosis for habit cessation. Sports psychology and personal coaching are new areas of expertise that he finds very rewarding.

Mrs. Mangum’s training and experience is primarily in educational settings, but her approach is also cognitive-behavioral. Through extensive evaluation and assessment, she helps clients determine their individual strengths, develop realistic expectations, set concrete goals, and learn skills needed to be successful educationally or personally. Mrs. Mangum does not provide therapy, but has experience with counseling, consultation, and coaching.

Statistics show that about two thirds of those who sought therapy felt better about themselves and better able to handle problems and make good decisions after having been in therapy. The biggest factors affecting positive results of therapy are your belief in the process and willingness to make some changes, and your confidence in the training and skills of your therapist, counselor, or coach.

Some people have not had good results from therapy. Many factors affect the outcome of therapy, such as the difficulty of the problem, the competence of the therapist, the motivation and capability of the client to apply therapeutic principles, and the length of therapy. Therapy can help things become easier for you, but it can also be very hard work.

You should become a critical consumer when looking for competent mental health care services, and an active participant in planning your goals. Ask about credentials, certification, and training, but also ask about experience and expertise in helping people with your specific concern. Ask for a brief telephone consultation and consider whether the professional takes the time to answer your questions. Good professionals will want you to know more about them so you will have confidence in their ability to help you, and they will want to know more about what prompted you to call so they can determine whether they are the most qualified to help.

While in therapy, set goals that can be assessed for progress. Some progress will be subjective, such as "I seem to feel happier most of the time." Others will be more objective, such as "My child has one tantrum per week rather than two or three every day." Most professionals suggest you set two or three goals at a time, rather than trying to change your whole life at once. Many professionals will work with you to write a plan with goals that you can review and monitor for progress. Look at the gains you’ve made objectively, and compare with those with how you feel about the progress you’re making.