The Power of Cautious Optimism with Online Therapy
With every online therapy client that I work with, I ask two essential things:
Give every intervention a real try. Whether it's new coping skills, sitting with your emotions, or a journaling exercise, I want you to give it 100% of your effort. This is essential for success, especially in the world of counseling where your engagement can make or break you.
Attempt cautious optimism.
What is cautious optimism? Cautious optimism means being guarded yet open to believing this action and intervention can succeed. When you start with online therapy sessions, it’s 100% natural to be hesitant. This is a new space. You don’t know me, and you're trusting me with the most intimate details of your life through a video chat. Cautious optimism allows you to engage in the process of therapy while still feeling safe.
Online Therapy
Every single online therapy client I work with is stuck in a cycle. They may feel overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or any other emotion. Often, a major life event, like a relationship crisis or severe work stress, brings these issues to the surface. It’s at this point that people turn to a professional therapist for help.
Changing these deep-seated patterns is challenging. Changes typically occur in a few ways: You, the individual, can learn and grow. The dynamics of your relationships can shift. The relationship itself can change. External factors are managed differently. A majority of my clients who start online therapy want to change their mindset, learn new tools, and process their emotions. They want to work on themselves.
This is where the two principles become vital. Giving every intervention a real try and being cautiously optimistic are the cornerstones of successful online therapy for many of my clients. While online therapy isn’t the end all be all, online therapy can be incredibly effective and efficient in making everlasting change.
When a client sees change starting to happen, it’s important to continue testing and retesting regularly and often. Once a new pattern has proven its worth over an extended period, you can finally let go of the caution. Be optimistic that the skill works and you are able to use the skill as needed.
I can’t tell you exactly what will work for your unique situation. I can share what the research says and what has worked for other clients in their online therapy journeys. By implementing interventions with a full effort and a cautiously optimistic mindset, you’ll often be surprised by the process and results of your online therapy experience.
Reach out for Online Therapy
If you’re ready to explore how online therapy can help you make meaningful changes in your life, reach out for a free consultation with Chris Rabanera. Offering online therapy in California, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah, I specialize in addressing physician burnout, grief counseling, anxiety, depression and providing tailored mental health treatment for men. Let’s get to work to make lasting positive changes.
