Counselors and therapists are starting to take very seriously the idea that exercise brings emotional benefits. Exercise therapy, more so than other physically based approaches discussed in this chapter, has been tested in various ways. Many emotional conditions--for example, anxiety and depression--seem to be significantly reduced thanks to periods of sustained vigorous exercise. Tolerance to stress and to pain appears to be increased. Physical exercise can be an outlet for pent-up hostility and aggression that, according to many theorists, may be turned inward, then fester, and eventually take the form of a variety of psychological disorders. Furthermore, vigorous, sustained aerobic exercise--like running or swimming--appears to have a calming effect as a result of certain chemical compounds that are released into the bloodstream. We will look at some of the interesting recent studies of the therapeutic value of exercise later on. {54} 6 WHERE YOU CAN FIND HELP PRIVATE PRACTICE As we have seen, social work counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, biofeedback therapists, hypnotherapists, and other therapists may all offer their services through private practice. In general, there can be definite advantages to counseling in the setting of a therapist's private practice. You are given a degree of personal care that, as an individual paying customer, you are less likely to receive in counseling provided by agencies. You become part of a therapist's own practice, so it is natural for him or her to devote special attention to you. Therapists are likely to be more personally involved in their private practice and in the quality of care they try to give their private clients than it is possible or even personally desirable for them to be when they work by the hour for an agency. On the other hand, private sessions with a therapist tend to be considerably more expensive than counseling can be through many agencies. You ought not to take too seriously general comparisons between therapy as you may encounter it privately and therapy in the setting of an agency. You can often find a counselor who is congenial, interested, attentive, and skilled; whose services will be easier for you to bear financially; and who {55} offers his or her services through an agency. If finances are restrictive for you, you should look into agency-sponsored counseling. Many social work counselors, psychologists, and some psychiatrists who maintain private practices intended mainly for individual therapy also offer group therapy. Often, a therapist will observe that a number of individual clients share certain problems and experiences, and he or she will suggest that these people meet together as a group. The per-session price can be expected to be a good deal lower than for individual sessions; the rate usually reflects the number of people who meet in the group and the length of time the group is expected to continue.