What makes psychotherapy successful?

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First, hope, motivation, and engagement, are essential. With this as fertile ground, the therapeutic relationship is vital for successful therapy. It is very important that clients feel their therapist as a good fit, which is not to say that relational challenges will not occur; in fact, working through these together can be extremely fruitful. Relationships can bring up the most powerful feelings, and psychotherapy focuses very much on these. Some, such as those of guilt or shame, can be so strong as to be unbearable to acknowledge – to others or even ourselves. Great lengths can be taken to mask them, and whole life choices made to suppress them. Becoming aware of what was once unconscious can loosen some of its grip on us, bring peace, and open-up options. Increased awareness about ourselves, our history, motives, reactions, patterns, can be uncomfortable, even painful – yet eventually greatly life-enhancing. Therapy can instigate, accelerate, nurture, and accompany this journey.