Individual Therapy: Understanding the Process & the Purpose
Quick Answer: What Is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy, also called talk therapy or psychotherapy, is a one-on-one process between a client and a licensed mental health professional. It is a private, structured space to make sense of difficult experiences, supported by evidence-based approaches such as psychodynamic therapy, CBT, systemic therapy, and attachment-based work. Goals are always set collaboratively, and sessions typically last around 50 minutes.
Many people reach a point in life where the weight of their experiences grief, anxiety, relationship pain, or a quiet sense of disconnection becomes difficult to carry alone. Individual therapy offers a private, structured space to begin making sense of those experiences, supported by a trained professional and guided by approaches that have decades of research behind them.
Whether you are navigating a specific challenge or simply seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, individual therapy can be a meaningful and lasting investment in your well-being.
50 min
Typical session length for individual therapy
37 RCTs
Randomised controlled trials supporting systemic therapy (NIH meta-analysis)
4+
Evidence-based therapeutic modalities available at Sandoval Therapy
What Is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy, often called talk therapy or psychotherapy, is a one-on-one process between a client and a licensed mental health professional. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), psychotherapy refers to a variety of treatments aimed at helping a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviours, and most commonly takes place in a private setting with a single clinician.[1]
It is not a one-size-fits-all process. Therapists draw on different evidence-based approaches or a blend of several depending on what a client is working through, their history, and their goals. At its core, individual therapy is a collaborative relationship built on trust, consistency, and genuine care.
At Sandoval Therapy, individual therapy for adults in Pasadena and throughout the greater Los Angeles area begins with exactly that understanding who you are, what you are carrying, and working collaboratively to determine the approach that is genuinely right for you.
What Is the Goal of Individual Therapy?
The goals of individual therapy are both immediate and long-term. The NIMH outlines three broad aims that run across nearly all therapeutic approaches: gaining relief from distressing symptoms, maintaining or improving day-to-day functioning, and enhancing overall quality of life.[1]
In practice, this might look like:
Processing Past Trauma
That continues to shape present relationships
Healthier Thinking Patterns
Developing better ways of thinking and responding to stress
Stronger Sense of Identity & Self-Worth
Building confidence and a clearer sense of who you are
Emotional Regulation
Learning to manage emotions and communicate effectively
Clarity During Major Life Transitions
Finding direction when life feels uncertain or overwhelming
The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasises that goal-setting in therapy is always collaborative. After an initial assessment, therapist and client work together to identify clear, meaningful goals and both parties invest in achieving them. Some therapists formalise this through a treatment plan or contract that outlines the purpose of therapy, its expected length, and the respective responsibilities of both client and clinician.[2]
What Is Individual Therapy Like?
Starting therapy can feel uncertain, and that is completely normal. Understanding what to expect can help ease that initial hesitation.
The First Session
The first session typically involves your therapist gathering background about your life, history, and what has brought you to therapy. This is not an interrogation — it is the beginning of a relationship. From there, you and your therapist begin shaping a direction for your work together.
Session Length & Frequency
Sessions generally last around 50 minutes and take place weekly, though the frequency and length of treatment will depend on your individual needs. Some people attend therapy for a focused period of a few months; others find longer-term work more meaningful.
Active Work, Not Just Talking
Throughout therapy, you are not simply talking — you are actively working. That might involve exploring the origins of certain patterns, practising new ways of thinking or responding, or unpacking experiences that have never fully been processed. Progress is rarely linear, but with time and consistency, most clients begin to notice meaningful shifts.
A Clear Treatment Plan
The APA notes that some clinicians create a treatment contract that documents your shared goals and outlines what you can each expect from the process, helping ensure clarity and trust from the outset.[2]
At Sandoval Therapy, your first session is a chance for us to understand your story — without judgement, and at your pace. Both in-person sessions in Pasadena, CA and telehealth appointments are available, so you can access support in the way that works best for you.
Book a consultation →Therapeutic Approaches Used in Individual Therapy
Different clients need different tools. No single modality works for everyone, which is why skilled therapists are trained across multiple evidence-based approaches and tailor their methods to each person. Below is a brief overview of four approaches that form a core part of effective individual therapy.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is rooted in the understanding that our present struggles are often shaped by past experiences, unconscious patterns, and relational histories we may not be fully aware of. It invites clients to explore the deeper emotional undercurrents influencing their behaviour, relationships, and sense of self.
Research published in the American Psychologist by Dr Jonathan Shedler found that psychodynamic therapy produces effect sizes comparable to those of other treatments actively promoted as evidence-based, and that clients not only maintain their progress after treatment ends they often continue to improve.[4] This speaks to the depth of change that this approach can facilitate over time.
Psychodynamic therapy is particularly well-suited to those working through complex relational difficulties, identity concerns, long-standing emotional patterns, and the lingering effects of early or developmental trauma. At Sandoval Therapy, psychodynamic therapy is one of the primary approaches we draw on when supporting adults who sense that something deeper is driving their struggles and part of our work together is helping you explore whether this is the right lens for your healing.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively researched forms of psychotherapy in existence. It is built on the principle that how we think shapes how we feel, and how we feel shapes how we act and that by examining and shifting unhelpful thought patterns, we can create meaningful changes in mood and behaviour.
A major meta-review published in Psychological Medicine drawing on systematic reviews across MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases found CBT to be effective across a wide range of conditions, populations, and contexts, making it one of the most broadly validated therapeutic interventions available.[5]
CBT is frequently used for anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and many other presentations. It is typically structured and skills-focused, equipping clients with practical tools they can apply between sessions and carry long after therapy ends.
At Sandoval Therapy, CBT is offered as a structured, evidence-based path toward changing the thought patterns that may be holding you back. Whether you are managing anxiety, low mood, or stress, CBT gives you concrete skills to work with in session and in your daily life. Learn about CBT at Sandoval →
Systemic and Systems Therapy
Systemic therapy takes a relational view of mental health rather than seeing difficulties as located solely within an individual, it considers how a person’s challenges exist within, and are shaped by, their broader relational and social systems: family, partnerships, community, and culture.
A meta-analysis of 37 randomised controlled trials hosted on the National Library of Medicine (NIH) found that systemic therapy produced stronger short-term and long-term outcomes than control groups, and that its efficacy was comparable to other well-established psychotherapies. Clients receiving systemic therapy alongside medication also showed greater improvements than those receiving medication alone.[6]
In individual therapy, a systemic lens helps clients understand how their patterns of relating and communicating have been shaped by the systems around the and how they can begin to shift those patterns from within. At Sandoval Therapy, we bring this relational perspective into our work with adults across the Los Angeles area, helping you make sense of how your broader environment has influenced who you are today and whether a systemic framework is the right foundation to build your therapy on.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Attachment theory, originally developed by John Bowlby, proposes that the bonds we form in early life become internal templates shaping how we relate to others, how we regulate our emotions, and how we experience closeness, conflict, and loss throughout adulthood.
Attachment-based therapy brings those early relational patterns into focus. It examines how a person’s attachment style whether secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganised influences their current relationships and emotional life. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a place where new relational experiences can be safely explored and, over time, internalised.
This approach is particularly meaningful for those who find themselves repeating patterns across relationships, struggling with trust or vulnerability, or experiencing emotional dysregulation that feels difficult to explain.
At Sandoval Therapy, attachment-informed care is central to how we work especially with adults and couples navigating relational pain, intimacy struggles, or long-standing patterns of disconnection. Understanding your attachment style can be a powerful starting point for lasting change. Explore attachment-based therapy at Sandoval →
Finding the Right Approach for You
One of the most important and often most overlooked parts of therapy is finding the right fit: both the right therapist and the right approach. There is no universal method that works for every person, and effective therapy often draws on several modalities working together.
At Sandoval Therapy, we are trained across a wide array of evidence-based and specialised approaches. Part of what we do together in those early sessions is learn what you need and match the method to the person, not the other way around. Our areas of specialism include:
Individual Therapy
One-on-one support for adults navigating life’s challenges
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
A structured, evidence-based approach for processing trauma
Helping partners build understanding, communication, and connection
Exploring the different “parts” of self to create inner harmony
A powerful, body-based method for accessing and processing deep emotional pain
Compassionate, trauma-informed support for those carrying the weight of past experiences
If you are unsure where to begin, that is completely okay discovering the right path is something we can figure out together.
Contact us to find the right approach for you →How Sandoval Therapy Can Help
At Sandoval Therapy, various techniques are used to help you overcome your concerns. With a personalised approach, you will receive services catered to your needs working towards understanding, growth, and lasting change.
We help adults and couples explore patterns rooted in trauma, stress, relationships, identity, and emotional disconnection, using compassionate, trauma-informed therapy approaches. Whether your work calls for psychodynamic exploration, CBT-based skill-building, a systemic lens on your relationships, or an understanding of how your attachment history shapes your present we offer the range of approaches to meet you where you are.
Serving Pasadena and Greater Los Angeles
Both in-person and telehealth services are available. We are based in Pasadena, CA, and proudly serve clients throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including Arcadia, Monrovia, Glendale, Alhambra, and surrounding communities.
If you are curious whether therapy is right for you, we warmly invite you to reach out. You do not need to have everything figured out that is exactly what we are here for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Therapy
Answers to the questions people most commonly ask when considering individual therapy for the first time.
What is individual therapy and is it right for me?
Individual therapy is a one-on-one process with a licensed mental health professional, designed to help you identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. It is well-suited to anyone navigating grief, anxiety, relationship challenges, life transitions, trauma, or a general sense of being stuck. If the weight of your experiences feels difficult to carry alone, therapy can be a meaningful next step.
What happens in the first therapy session?
Your first session is about getting to know each other. Your therapist will gather background about your life, history, and what has brought you to therapy. It is not an interrogation it is the beginning of a collaborative relationship. At Sandoval Therapy, your first session is a chance to share your story without judgement, at your pace.
How long does individual therapy last?
Sessions typically last around 50 minutes and occur weekly. The overall length of therapy depends on your goals and needs some people benefit from a focused few months, while others find longer-term work more meaningful. Your therapist will discuss expected duration with you and revisit it as your work progresses.
What is the difference between CBT and psychodynamic therapy?
CBT focuses on identifying and restructuring unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours in the present. Psychodynamic therapy explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns continue to shape your current emotional life and relationships. Both are evidence-based; the right choice depends on what you are working through, and many therapists draw on both approaches.
Can individual therapy help with trauma?
Yes. Individual therapy particularly approaches like EMDR, IFS, Brainspotting, and trauma-informed psychodynamic work is widely used for trauma and PTSD. The right approach depends on the type and complexity of your trauma. At Sandoval Therapy, we offer multiple trauma-informed modalities and will work with you to identify the best fit.
This blog is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition.