lets talk therapy
I've been in therapy for 5 years now and I go through waves. I can go a few months without therapy but then I get a heavy load of mental/emotional shit hit me all at once which leads me back to booking regular sessions. I finally come to terms with the fact that you never graduate from therapy, it's a life long journey. People often view going to therapy as being weak or unable to fix their own problems. But it’s really for everyone, even the healthiest people you know need therapy. For example, you go to the gym to maintain your physical health and you go to the eye doctor annually to check your vision. Well, therapy is to maintain your mental, spiritual and emotional health, same thing!. I would even say that it’s more important.
No one is above therapy and I stand ten toes down on that. What I will say is that you need to be ready in order to take that step. No one can force you to go to therapy if you are not prepared to make that life change. I say life change because it really can be life-changing. When you find the right therapist, everything after that will forever be different. Is it hard, yes, will you cry, hell yes. But once you crawl through the hard stuff, it only leaves you tackling every aspect of your life in a different way. For me, I have ugly-cried way too many times than I can count. I’ve had to take an inside look at myself and understand the motivations for my actions, take accountability for my own reality (that one is tough), and forgive myself for past mistakes. To be very blunt, most of the time, it isn’t them, it’s you. You can’t control everything and everyone around you. Waiting for people or circumstances to change in order to be happy is delusional. What you can do is work on yourself and how you show up. That’s what’s gonna change the game!
STEP 1 - Finding the right therapist for YOU!
It’s not a one fits all. What works for one, won’t for another. Everyone has different traumas, triggers and needs
Date around. Just like a partner, you might not find the right therapist on the first try. You wouldn't just settle and marry the first guy you meet, so why settle for a therapist? It's a relationship, so you want to make sure you make a connection before committing. Most therapists offer free introductory consults because they too want to ensure they are the right person to support you through this journey.
What’s the problem. You might already know the issues you want to work on, but you also might not have any idea where to start. Both are ok. Just show up and start talking.
Taking that step isn't as scary as it might seems. It's one of the best investments you'll ever make because it's an investment in yourself! Remember that nothing in your life will ever change unless you do.
↓ What are some gems you’ve learned in therapy? ↓