One of those most amazing statistics on therapy out there is that 90% of the success rate is based on the client/therapist relationship, only 10% is based on the "type of approach" a therapist uses.When I started to put together my list of beliefs behind why I work as a therapist the first one came easily and is a bedrock in my thinking. "First and foremost, I believe in the self-efficacy of each individual to access what already lies within them to heal and grow. The therapist bears witness to, encourages, advises and educates as a part of the client's process"
I believe that people know what they need to do to heal. That knowing may need to be uncovered, brushed off, revived, or at times resuscitated but it is there in the essence of our being. Often times what needs to be done is so simple yet so complicated that we write it off as unnecessary or meaningless. For example, I have seen symptoms of anxiety and depression diminish through the powerful impact of confession or forgiveness. Talking for the first time about a history of abuse, admitting for the first time the commitment to victimhood or finally releasing the painful unmet expectations rooted in childhood. Any one of these acts come to the surface during therapy not through the therapist but rather through the heart of the client. The process to getting there is as much an individual choice as is taking the time and getting the help to listen to yourself. This always reminds me of the end of the movie "The Wizard of Oz" when Glinda says to Dorothy "Why, you have had the power to go home the whole time". We all have the power to heal and grow anytime we want and getting help to remember who we are, well that's just a part of the journey.
