Therapy: How Do You Know if it's Right for you?

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor - if you or someone you know is in danger, please seek medical advice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKlaFeyKC0o

Hello again! In light of some recent circumstances I want to talk about one of the mental health toolkit essentials: therapy. How do you know if you need it? When should you reach out about it, and to who? Let’s get into it.

Thinking about therapy: how to know when it’s time to go.

If you are considering therapy, chances are extremely high you would benefit from it. Therapy is like any other medical service: delivered by a professional with your health plan in mind. Many of us go to the doctor when our throat hurts or as a way to stay on top of our health. Think of therapy in the same way - treated not only as urgent care, but also as preventative care.

I've attended therapy many times throughout my life. My parents got divorced when I was three years old, so they started bringing me to sessions around five. I'm thankful for this, because I did not grow up feeling ashamed to seek out mental health help when I needed it, but this is not the case for everyone. It wasn’t until college that I met people who didn’t understand what therapy was, and some of them even regarded it as shameful.

But it is not shameful. Having emotions doesn’t make you weak. It makes you a human being.

Nowadays therapy is much more accessible, even for those with social cohorts who are not supportive of mental health help. With the ability to attend therapy in-person or even online, it’s become way easier (and more discreet) to achieve mental health progress.

What is therapy like?

Every therapist is different, which can be both an amazing thing and a pain. Amazing because you can find exactly the right person for you - a pain because it may take a few sessions to find your ideal match.

Keep in mind that, like most things, therapy is much different than how the media portrays it. It’s not always looking for meaning in black and white splotchy illustrations and laying down in awkward half-bed half-couches. Many of my own sessions have been right in the comfort of my own home, but I’ve also attended art therapy, therapy at church, and group therapy.

As this discipline has developed, so have the ways it is administered - nowadays there's hiking therapy, sessions that take place over video game servers, and even LSD, magic mushroom, and ecstasy guided-therapy sessions.

Therapy functions as an opportunity for you to talk about your thoughts and emotions in a safe space, where there is absolutely no judgment and no pressure. A therapist is much different from a friend or a loved one- they are only there to help you, and you are paying for their service. It’s also important to note that your sessions are covered under HIPAA - your therapist is generally not allowed to reveal anything you discuss during your session to any person (unless they truly believe you are at risk to yourself or others).

In my own experience, therapy consists of conversations like any other, except the person you are talking to is a professional, and knows the right questions to ask to make you think deeper about your decisions and thought patterns. It’s like having a safari guide to your own mind. Many of my own sessions have been friendly banter, others heated venting, and some meaningful crying episodes.

One thing is for sure though - therapy only works if you are open to it. And it’s okay to take your time with opening up, but you have to be willing to listen and work on yourself if you want therapy to have lasting benefits.

Still unsure if therapy is for you? If you are considering therapy, or are even just curious about it, I think it is without a doubt worth trying it out for a month or two.

How often should I go to therapy?

This is really up to you and your therapist. During your first session, you’ll most likely discuss your base-line emotional state, a bit of your history, and your mental-health goals. With all of this in mind, some therapists may make a recommendation for how often you should attend therapy sessions in order to reach your goals. Other therapists might allow you to make that determination, depending on where you are in your journey and the goals you hope to achieve.

When can I expect to stop? Again, this is really up to you and your therapist. Depending on your goals and current life circumstances, your sessions can last as short as a few days, to years at a time. Many people decide to keep attending therapy even after they have “recovered” for preventative care. This can look like attending once a month, or once every other month.

The most important thing to remember is that you cannot rush improving your mental health, and that progress is not always linear, so ensure you are always being gentle with yourself.

In Conclusion

If you are thinking about going to therapy, I strongly encourage you to continue down that path. These things aren’t scary, they don’t make you weak, and most importantly they don’t define who you are! Unpacking emotions can be difficult and intense so I really appreciate the fact that you are even considering approaching this.

What do you think about therapy? Have you tried it before? Let's continue the conversation in the comments. :)

As always, thanks so much for reading!

Xx,

Renee