The Client's Guide to Therapy: How to Get the Most out of Your Counseling Experience

by Terri S. Watson

Get the most from your counseling experience with tips from an expert Christian counselor.

Deciding to meet with a professional counselor is a major step for personal mental health. But what comes next? Some people are unsure how the therapy process works, some have had negative experiences, and some simply want to know they're benefiting as much as possible from the time and resources they invest.

In this accessible, information-packed guide, Christian psychologist Terri Watson provides an expert's perspective on how to get the most out of your counseling experience. Readers will find a wealth of wisdom, including:

• advice for looking into options for counseling
• how to find a counselor who's a good fit
• what to expect during and after counseling
• how to get the most out of your sessions and the therapy process
• expert tips on mental health care
• insights on the role of faith and common questions Christians ask

For any Christian considering or receiving clinical mental health care, as well as mental health professionals and those who make referrals, The Client's Guide to Therapy is an encouraging and helpful companion.

168 pages, Paperback

Published April 8, 2025

About the author

Terri S. Watson (PsyD, ABPP) is dean and professor of the School of Psychology, Counseling, and Family Therapy at Wheaton College. She is also a board-certified clinical psychologist, an approved clinical supervisor with the Center for Credentialing and Education, and an approved supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She maintains a private practice and also provides supervision and clinical consultation for community and private organizations.

Reviews

[Bethany]

Audio.
I really couldn’t figure out the audience.
• Someone hesitant to pursue therapy? I’m going to overthink these options before I ever start, and the jargon-y language will probably turn me off.
• Someone engaging in therapy? (Me) I’m no longer in need of half the book. (And I didn’t need to assess my therapists’ frameworks or philosophies, I took friends’ recommendations and found an incredible fit).
• Someone in the profession? This is 101-level.
It just feels too comprehensive and behind the curtain for most. I think the author was trying to make therapy accessible, but most people don’t need this much info to get help.
I like to eat chicken but don’t want to be involved in how it got from the farm to my plate.

[Holly Buhler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The clients guide to therapy:
* every counseling journey begins with hope
* Seeking others is an act of hope that we do not have to struggle alone in our prison suffering
* The journey towards health begins with the recognition that we do not have to travel alone in our quest to address the problems in our lives
* Our mental health is influenced by several factors, including our biology are psychology, social and economic, stressors, and spiritual factors
* The flipside of risk factors is, we also possess bio, psychosocial and spiritual protective factors that can mitigate the development of mental illness
* Psychological growth, contributes to spiritual vitality
* Existential and spiritual struggles can contribute to the development of psychological symptoms. We must honor these symptoms as the voice of the soul.
* Therapists support clients exploration of questions and doubts while encouraging them to stay connected with their Faith communities for guidance and spiritual resources
* We bring glory to God when we bring our healthiest selves to living and loving
* What are my risk factors for developing mental health symptoms biopsychosocial spiritual
* Research on the effectiveness on Tele elemental health healthcare has found that generally most clients receive benefits equivalent to those of in person therapy in terms of the reduction of symptoms
* Integrating, religious and spiritual practices into the counseling experience leads to positive outcomes for Christian clients
* Counseling is not a quick fix, advice, giving, focusing primarily on other people, therapist talking about themselves, focus, focusing on facts alone.
* Common psychological defense mechanisms that come up in therapy can include
- Avoidance coping strategies dodging the real issues that may be difficult to deal with
- Denial strategies, rejecting admission of their current struggles
- Intellectualization clients tried to reason away their current feelings
- Rationalization occur occurs when clients tried to justify problematic thoughts, feelings, or behaviors
- Externalization blaming others or external circumstances for one’s own actions or and behaviors
- Somatic ation the development of psychological symptoms as a result of unacknowledged psychological stress
- Projection when clients see their own psychological issues and others
- Emotional numbing coping with feelings through addictive behavior behaviors

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Finding a therapist can be overwhelming, and people who are unfamiliar with what to expect from therapy can find the process especially mystifying. This book educates potential clients about therapy so that they can determine the type of counseling that they need, find the right fit, and make the most of their experience. Terri S. Watson is a therapist and a professor of psychology, and she shares her professional expertise and personal insights throughout this book, answering common questions and sharing details that people might not even know to ask about.

This book is just under 150 pages long, but it is very thorough and covers a lot of information. It describes different types of counseling, as well as different therapeutic approaches, and this book will give people the concepts and vocabulary they need to be able to find solutions and effectively advocate for themselves. This book also addresses common issues that may arise in therapy, helping people anticipate and avoid roadblocks when possible. The author also includes helpful insights about how Christians can integrate therapy with their faith.

However, even though this book is very helpful overall, it is too academic in tone for the target audience. The author uses lots of clinical jargon, even when she is talking about fairly basic things that she could have described in normal words. This may be off-putting and overwhelming for readers who feel unsure about therapy. Even though the content is geared towards people who have never been to therapy, the writing style is often more appropriate for psychology students and therapists.

This is an informative, helpful guide for Christians who are considering getting mental health care. This can also be useful for people who are already in therapy, but who want to better understand the process and take a more active, assertive role in their healing journey. However, because of the occasionally dense and jargon-laden writing style, this is best for people who are very intellectual and want to put a great deal of thought into therapy. Someone else might find this difficult to get through, and would be better off pursuing a more casual, conversational guide to the topic.

I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.