Practical Problems

Therapy isn't only for intrapsychic or interpersonal problems.  Sometimes practical problems, which we all encounter every day, come up in a session.  It is especially useful to brainstorm with someone who knows you on a deep level yet is also objective about your life circumstances.  Therapists try  not to tell people what to do but, they can be very helpful in joining you in evaluating a conundrum and assisting you with finding your own solution.  This is best in an on-going therapy relationship where the therapist is already familiar with the shape of your individual life.  But, therapists usually have a highly developed evaluative function, a well-practiced ability to prioritize, and a willingness to listen carefully.  Therefore we can usually be of some help on a presenting problem even in an initial session.

It's not so much having a problem as it is identifying it and having a plan to solve it.