Thinking about therapy? Maybe you're feeling stuck in a rut. Or perhaps you're reeling from the crushing burden of anxiety, or the loss of a relationship. Maybe you can't even bear the thought of living another day like this. Whatever the reason, you have decided to get help.

“The struggle between who we are and who we want to be is what most motivates humans to grow.” - Aimee Liu

Let me stop you right here.

Congratulations!! Really!! It may not feel like it, but you have just made a monumental shift in your life. Believe it or not, your awareness that change is needed is the first and most critical step in the process of change.

First Reactions

You've got your first-ever appointment scheduled. At this point, your mind is whirling with questions and rationalizations. This is normal. Life might seem unbearable, but it is also comfortable because you're used to it. Part of you is ready to fight for change, but another part of you is going to fight to remain the same.

"What if my therapist thinks I'm crazy?"

"Nobody can help me anyway."

"Do I really even need help?"

"I think I'm better now. I don't need to go."

Repeat After Me: "I Will Keep an Open-Mind."

Now breathe. Close your eyes and imagine what therapy is going to be like for you. Chances are you probably have all sorts of ideas about it from TV and movies. Are you envisioning a deep analysis of last night's dreams? Are you lying on a leather couch while a gray-haired man stares blankly at you? Are you pacing the floor brimming with new realizations, or sitting silently staring at the clock?

The truth is, therapy is different for everybody. It's a highly individual process. But you won't know what it will be like until you're there. The key is to remain open-minded.

No, You're Not Crazy.

Attending therapy does not make you crazy or screwed up. The majority of people seeking therapy are doing so because they're having difficulty dealing with everyday life. Even if you've been diagnosed with a mental disorder such as depression, or an eating disorder, you CAN heal. Therapy helps you break down barriers, explore the root causes of problems, increase your self-awareness and acceptance, and much, much more.

Is This Person The One?

It may take a few tries before you find a therapist with whom you feel you can really be open and honest. A good therapist will never condemn you for choosing to seek someone else. Trust yourself. You'll know when a therapeutic relationship feels right.

Yes, You Can Do This.

Therapy isn't easy. It's work. But growth, in any sense of the word, demands strength and courage. Your therapist is there to help you find these attributes within yourself. They're on your team, every step of the way.

Ready? You've got this. Go Team You!

✨ Josie Munroe, LMFT is a licensed therapist and owner of JosieMunroe.com and Your Sensitive Recovery  As a recovered clinician and Highly Sensitive Person, she loves supporting others on their journeys to form new, empowered relationships with food, their bodies, and their sensitivity. Join the newsletter for a weekly boost of hope and inspiration. You deserve a recovery that works for you! ✨