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People who use therapy as a place to vent about their week are likely not getting its full benefits.

Being an active consumer means setting goals, having agendas, and periodically reviewing progress.

Be careful you're not continuing therapy out of routine, or simply because it is a comfortable relationship.

Sam and Cate are having their first session in couples therapy. "Are you in individual therapy?" the therapist asks.

"Just getting started, or have you been in it for a while?"

"And what are you working on in your therapies?"

"Oh, you know, managing everyday stress, things that come up during the week."

I’ve met other couples like Sam and Cate who have been in therapy for years, using it to relieve stress and better manage their daily lives. Do you think they find it helpful? Absolutely. They always feel better when they walk out than when they came in. But honestly, I wince when I hear this for a couple of reasons.

One possible ethical concern is dependency. All therapy fields warn practitioners in their codes of ethics to be careful about fostering dependency—cultivating a positive relationship, but without........

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