What is therapy? An interview with Dr. Levenson

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Jessica C. Levenson, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh

We spoke to Dr. Jessica Levenson who works at the Sleep Medicine Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Jessica is a clinical psychologist who is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). She is currently specializing in psychotherapy for sleep which is focused on specific treatments that help with a variety of sleep problems like insomnia or nightmares. We interviewed Dr. Jessica to learn more about what to expect out of therapy.Dr. Jessica says that, “People usually meet once a week or once every few weeks for about an hour at a time and it is talking, but it is very purposeful talking. It’s talking about things that are related to concerns that a person is having and trying to develop a plan for problem solving or improving those areas.”

So what does that mean for you and your adolescent? It means that yes, it is talking, but it’s also making a plan for what they’ll do outside of their therapy time, and what tools they already have in their life that can help them to improve what they already have going for them. Also therapy is about their goals and what is important to them.

Dr. Jessica also talked about what a first session might be like: “The therapist gets to know the client a little bit, they talk about concerns the client is having and what might be going on in their life that may be contributing to those concerns.”

Once again, this means that your child’s therapist is going to listen to what they think they need in their life, what is bothering them and why they chose to come to therapy. The therapist is going to ask questions about this stuff so that they can get to know the client better and help them come up with a plan for making their life better.

What about keeping confidentiality? Is my child’s therapist going to talk to me about what is talked about in the session?

Dr. Jessica says: “My preference is in terms of building a good therapy relationship with the teenager is that whatever the teenager and I discuss is confidential between me and the teenager. And that we may choose to share some things with their parent or anyone else if that seems like it’s appropriate given the therapy. But that, I wouldn’t share anything without first letting the teenager know. Now there are 2 exceptions to that, which legally I am bound by law to report. Those are if the teenager is planning to hurt themselves or if they are being harmed by somebody else. Those things do not fall under the cover of confidentiality. Because the most important thing is the persons safety.”

But I’m nervous and embarrassed! My child is too!

Dr. Jessica says that it’s 100% normal to be nervous about your first session, or even later sessions. How would you know what to expect if you’ve never done something before? Your therapist is there because they want to help and they are open to hearing almost anything that’s on a person’s mind. Because no matter how embarrassing it may seem or how nervous you are about it: if it’s going to help you get better, than it is relevant!

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It’s totally normal to be hesitant to anxious about considering therapy. That usually goes away once you actually meet the person you’re going to be talking with. Therapy is definitely a useful tool to have in your life!

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Firefly ★

I like to do coloring pages, yoga, and running to help me with my mental health.

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