tion. On the other hand, because of their
training, psychologists typically use a wider
range of therapeutic techniques and have a
deeper knowledge of the process of thera-
peutic change. I train
my doctoral students
to be proficient in all
of the major thera-
peutic orientations
which gives them
options to treat their
clients.
Question: Exactly
what is meant by the
term therapy and
more specifically, psychotherapy?
Dr. Ridley: The terms therapy, psycho-
therapy, and even psychological counseling
mean essentially the same thing. While some
professionals make a distinction between
these terms, the purpose of this profes-
sional service is to help people overcome
problems that keep them in an emotional
rut and live more effectively. Living more
effectively means handling their painful
emotions, making better lifestyle decisions,
and managing their personal problems. As
you would say, Dr. Shaw, they should make
better decisions within the choices they
have.
Question: If a person has never sought
the professional services of a psycholo-
gist or other mental health professional,
what should he/she expect in a first-time
encounter? In other words, how can Chris-
tians encourage each other to be comfort-
able with seeking mental health services?
24 HimPower July 2018
Dr. Ridley: The typical first encounter is
an intake interview. Here the professional
tries to get an overview of the clients’ back-
ground, an understanding of the presenting
complaints that led
them to therapy, as
well as provide an
explanation of the
therapy process and
ethical and legal
requirements.
Question: How
long does therapy or
counseling continue
after the first session?
Dr. Ridley: The length of therapy
depends on the needs of clients. One size
does not fit all. Some clients require several
sessions. Others can be in therapy months
or years. I have a client right now whose
wife committed suicide last year. He is expe-
riencing what we technically call compli-
cated grief. You would be surprised about
the many issues the suicide congers up in his
life. Our sessions are intense. He has been
my client for months, and I anticipate seeing
him for many months to come.
Question: In your opinion, what percep-
tions do Christians have about mental
health and/or mental well-being that may
prevent them from seeking mental health,
emotional, or psychological support?
Dr. Ridley: I supervise psychology
students in our community clinic who see
40-50 clients weekly. I also see several clients
weekly in a private practice. These experi-
ences provide a context for my answer to