Colorado Revised Statute 12-43-201 (9) officially defines psychotherapy as meaning “the treatment, diagnosis, testing, assessment, or counseling in a professional relationship to assist individuals or groups to alleviate mental disorders, understand unconscious or conscious motivation, resolve emotional, relationship, or attitudinal conflicts, or modify behaviors which interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual functioning.  Psychotherapy follows a planned procedure of intervention which takes place on a regular basis over a period of time, or in the cases of testing, assessment, or brief psychotherapy, it can be a single intervention.”

Wikipedia, the renowned on-line encyclopedia, offers this definition of psychotherapy: a set of techniques intended to improve mental health, emotional or behavioral issues in individuals, who are often called "clients". These issues often make it hard for people to manage their lives and achieve their goals. Psychotherapy is aimed at these problems, and solves them via a number of different approaches and techniques; commonly psychotherapy involves a therapist and client(s), who discuss their issues in an effort to discover what they are and how they can solve them.

I believe that psychotherapy requires active participation on the part of the client, and collaboration between the client and therapist.  Psychotherapy will be of more benefit to you if you are open and honest, and actively participate in sessions.  There are no guarantees, magical cures, or quick fixes with psychotherapy; it is not like going to see a medical doctor to receive antibiotics to cure an infection.  The course of psychotherapy may be difficult and require a lot of hard work on the part of the client; however, it is through this hard work that change, growth, and healing can occur.

Although it can be difficult and may feel scary and uncomfortable, recognizing the need to seek help and committing to psychotherapy is not a sign of weakness or failure.  Rather, it is an admirable act of strength and courage.  I look forward to working with you as you begin this journey.  Congratulations on taking the first step.