So you want to start therapy...

Good day, my love bugs.

I put up an Instagram poll a while back on my wellness page @acreatorswrite and I asked you guys what is the one thing you want to try or do in 2024. The majority of the response was therapy. As someone who has been in therapy since high school and someone who works in social services, I know that therapy can sound so overwhelming. Let us dismantle some of the myths that are associated with therapy.

1. Every journey starts with acceptance

In the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, the first step is to admit that you have a problem. This is similar to therapy because denial does not take you anywhere with any journey be it a fitness journey or a spiritual journey- you have to admit that there is something you have to address, a truth you are running away from, or an unresolved trauma that you have to deal with in therapy. Acceptance also comes with accountability in therapy you are going to have to own up to everything you have done.

2. It is not about ‘fixing’ anything

A common mistake we make when we go to therapy is that we go in thinking that something is wrong with us and it needs to be fixed in therapy. I only realized this year that therapy is not a space that is going to make me a flawless human being. Yes, you set goals in therapy and want to stop certain behaviors but you are still human. What I want you to take away which took me a long time to realize is that peace does not come with silencing all of the noise but it recognizing that there is noise in the first place, meaning you have to take into account all of your flaws and learn to coincide with them.

3. Therapy is a safe space

In my opinion, everyone needs to try therapy once in their life and I have seen how so many people are embracing it which is wonderful. There are a lot of things that we have normalized in our lives that are not normal and there are things we have picked up along the way from past experiences that we need to let go of. The small things like talking badly about yourself, avoiding confrontation, becoming irritated easily, and having problems easily. Going to therapy is a great step towards self-awareness. You can talk about ANYTHING in therapy and I mean ANYTHING. "I can talk to my friend or family" That is amazing sweetie but your friend does not have the expertise of a therapist and sorry to break to you but most of the people who are closest to you enable your behaviour or tell you what you want to hear.

4. Therapy is a journey and it can get awkward

This journey is like any book or movie there is a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning part of your therapy journey will be you and your therapist trying to establish a professional relationship and you trying to get comfortable with the idea of seeing a therapist. Some relationships with therapists do not work out and that is okay but do not change your therapist because you do not like the truth you are being told. You want a therapist who resembles your values, who has your best interests at heart, and who is not going to coddle you. Do not let anyone invalidate how you feel or what you have been through.

5. You have to do the work

Your therapist is not a genie who is going to make all of your problems go away. Fun fact, your therapist is just there as a guide, you will be doing the work after all it is your healing journey. When you are given homework in therapy, do it. It might also take like two or three sessions of you doing the work to see improvement. Progress also looks different for everyone in therapy and you determine how far it goes.

6. There is more to therapy than talk therapy

There are a range of therapy processes you can try, the most common one is talk therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Narrative Therapy. I understand why talk therapy is useful because so much of our life is impacted by the language we use, how we think, and the stories we make up of ourselves. You can try therapy processes such as Play Therapy for inner child healing or Somatic Therapy which helps you understand how the body processes traumatic events.

7. All journey’s come to an end

Therapy cannot be used as a crutch you have to come to the end of your journey and deal with the real world. Some therapists will tell you that there are a set number of sessions where you will see each other or some therapists will tell you that they are satisfied with your progress and it needs to come to an end. You also might be satisfied with your progress and feel it is time to move on. Endings always feel so sad but it is a great opportunity to implement what you have learned in therapy in the real world.

I hope this helps you start that therapy journey it is a great way to offload anything you have been dealing with. Remember, I am not a licensed psychologist this is purely from my experience and therapy has done so much for me. I have also seen the positive impact it has had on the ones closest to me.

Till next time, Cheers!