The decision to enter therapy can be a daunting one filled with anxiety and trepidation. You may be questioning if you "need" therapy, whether it will be worth your while or if anything will change. You may worry about being judged, not trusting or liking your therapist. These are all valid concerns. When it comes to deciding if therapy is right for you, you may want to think about what you think therapy is and how it might help you with the challenges you face.
Answering these questions for yourself will help you on your journey to finding a therapist that will be a good fit for you. Therapy is about you, it is about what you want to bring to your sessions, it is about your goals and aspirations. Therapists are not there to judge you or give you advice, they are trained to help guide you to find the answers you seek through collaborative exploration and sharing of knowledge and skills.
There is a conception that therapy has to be a painful process with the dredging up of past hurts and traumas. This can be the case, but it does not have to be. Therapy can be focused on a specific goal such as overcoming a fear or phobia or reducing anxiety, as well as wanting to explore and change patterns in relationships. For some people they may not know what their goal is, but they know they find aspects of their lives difficult and they want some one skilled to support them to find their way through their pain and suffering towards healing and wholeness.
The beauty of being in a position to seek your own therapist is that you are in charge. You get to decide who your therapist is and whether they are someone you can work with. Therapy is ultimately about the relationship between you and your therapist. You do not need to stay with a therapist that you do not feel comfortable with or feel is judging you or not considering your feelings. Building trust can take time, especially if you have experienced violations of your trust in the past. An ethical therapist will not try to push this but allow the relationship to develop at its own pace.
Ultimately a therapist that is a good fit for you is going to give you a safe space that is free of judgement where you feel you can be yourself and share your thoughts, feelings and experiences and know that you are in safe hands. Before deciding on a therapist call around, have a chat with them on the phone and get a feel for whether they help you feel at ease or align with your own values and vision and the type of therapy you feel will benefit you.
Deciding to embark on therapy is a life changing decision and one that is an investment in you, your emotional wellbeing and the future self that you have visions of being. Everyone deserves to be free from the emotional shackles that have tied them to relationships, places or circumstances that do not make them feel complete and connected. Today could be the day you move towards where you want to be and away from what limits you!
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