Where will a career in psychology take you?
Effective therapy includes nine key elements: a non-judgmental environment where you feel safe sharing, a clear focus on your personal goals, evidence-based treatment approaches, regular progress reviews, strict confidentiality (with apparent exceptions), respect for your cultural beliefs, active listening from your therapist, professional boundaries, and a therapeutic (not personal) relationship. If your therapist provides these elements, you're receiving quality care that can lead to meaningful change.
Exposure therapy is a proven psychological treatment that helps people overcome anxiety disorders by gradually and safely confronting feared situations, objects, or memories. Effectiveness varies by condition, ranging from approximately 80-90% for specific phobias to 60-80% for PTSD and 60-70% for OCD when conducted by licensed therapists over 8-16 sessions.
