Therapist In San Francisco | Help With Life’s Challenges
Loïc Pritchard, LMFT
I’m Loïc Pritchard, a psychotherapist and licensed MFT with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. I offer therapy and counseling to individual adults, couples, and teens. I meet with clients for in-person therapy in my San Francisco office. I also meet clients via video online. I’m an inclusive therapist and work with a diverse range of people.
How Long Does It Take To Feel Better in Therapy?
Most of my clients began working with me during a time in which they were very stressed or overwhelmed with suffering. I understand that new clients often have an urgent need to feel better soon. I also understand that the cause of each person’s suffering is unique and always requires a thoughtful, personalized understanding of how the problem exists in the larger context of their life. I take enough time to get to know each of my clients well so that I can provide support that is actually useful. That being said, most clients experience meaningful relief within the first few sessions. Talking with someone who genuinely cares and wants to help—and who has the training and skills to do so —often relieves a great deal of pressure right away.
New clients often tell me that they feel a renewed sense of hope after our first session. New clients also report feeling a sense of pride since, by going to therapy, they have taken significant action to overcome the problem. Within a short period of time in therapy with me, most people find that they have succeeded in addressing their initial concern. After the initial problem has been resolved or greatly improved, there is the option—though no requirement— to continue working with me. My clients often chose to continue.
When clients continue in therapy with me beyond a few months, it is not because the therapy hasn’t worked, but because the therapy has been so successful. Having overcome a challenge that previously seemed insurmountable, clients see the potential for therapy to help with other important goals in their life. When clients continue our sessions, they say it is because the therapy has already helped, and they have reason to believe that it will continue to help.
The Benefits of Therapy
Therapy isn’t always necessary to solve a person’s problem. Sometimes people can solve a problem on their own, and sometimes they can’t. Often, when people contact me, they have already tried to solve the problem alone. Sometimes they have tried alone for a long time.
When people can solve a problem independently, it increases their self-confidence, since the success reveals some of their strengths and abilities. Because of this, I think that it is very important that people sometimes succeed in solving personal problems without my help. Clients who come to me for help also easily solve many problems on their own, outside of therapy. My clients are often capable people who began therapy when they were facing a challenge that was especially hard.
Sometimes, though, people try to solve a difficult problem alone for a long time and find that they can't. Sometimes, instead of going to therapy, people stay stuck in an unhappy circumstance for years, with very negative consequences for the person’s long-term, emotional well-being. When people try for a long time and still fail, they can become depressed, discouraged, isolated, and angry. With the pain and frustration of repeated disappointment, they may come to like themselves less and doubt themselves more.
I have worked with many people who waited a long time before reaching out for support. I’m always glad that these people have contacted me, and I’m usually able to help. However, the therapy for these clients can sometimes take longer, since the person may also now need help rebuilding their confidence, coming to terms with lost time, and mourning missed opportunities.
When a person has a very difficult challenge in front of them, I believe that good therapy dramatically increases the likelihood for a successful resolution. I also believe that therapy is easier and works faster when a person doesn’t wait too long to get started. If someone has already waited a long time before seeking help, I believe it is best to get started right away.
Starting Therapy
People sometimes hesitate to start therapy, especially if they’ve never met with a therapist before. It is very common for people to worry that therapy will be too hard, that it won’t work, or that it will be too uncomfortable. These worries sometimes stop people from contacting a therapist. I believe this is incredibly unfortunate, because therapy can be so helpful.
People who do meet with a good therapist usually discover that their fears were unfounded or exaggerated and that the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Although therapy can sometimes be a little uncomfortable or challenging, most clients find that any discomfort is temporary and manageable. I believe that sincere effort in therapy is almost always worth it.
I believe this because I have witnessed what can happen when people overcome their fears and begin meeting with a therapist. I have seen people disentangle themselves from painful relationship patterns and end self-defeating behaviors. I have seen people become more capable of giving and receiving authentic love. I have seen people who felt worthless develop a sense of pride and confidence that they hadn’t thought was possible for them. And I have seen people move from unfulfilling jobs, unsatisfying relationships, and flattened emotional experiences, into ways of living, working, and loving that feel worthwhile, meaningful, and alive.
If you are facing an important challenge in your life and you would like non-judgemental and caring support from a therapist, I encourage you to contact me today.
You can use the form below to send me a message or use my online booking platform to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.