Anxious about seeking therapy?
Starting therapy is intimidating and can certainly feel daunting.
You’re about to open up to someone new.
And sometimes you're about to share something you have shared with no one else.
It’s completely reasonable and natural to feel some anxiety about that. There are a lot of reasons you might be feeling nervous about starting therapy.
Let’s take a look at some of those reasons (and some myths about therapy!)
Common questions we might say before starting therapy
Do I really need therapy? Other people have it worse.
Don’t I only go if something is wrong with me?
Look, sometimes we do know something isn’t ‘right’. Sometimes its clear because our emotions, thoughts, or actions are preventing us from doing things we used to do. Or maybe you’re beginning to notice that your relationships are harder than you’d like them to be. But it’s not always clear.
Going to therapy doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you! It means you want to be the best version of yourself you can be. Even if you don’t have any major problems in your life, therapy can still be a helpful tool. You don’t have to wait until something feels wrong or you are in crisis to get help. If you feel like therapy is something that might help you in your life, you don’t have to wait until things are “bad enough”. Your therapist will support you with exactly what you’re feeling or where you’re at in life.
I’m scared about making a change in my life.
That makes sense - Change can be scary. Even if you aren’t exactly happy with how your life is going, it can be hard to make changes and live differently. We like what’s familiar.
But, change is an essential part of our growth. It can be uncomfortable, and that discomfort can lead to wonderful things. You get to set the pace in therapy, and change won’t happen overnight. Your therapist is there to help you through the process on your terms, not push you into it.
Won’t it hurt more to talk about the things that are making me sad?
It can be really hard to talk about what’s hurting us. Research actually shows us that being able to talk about hard things with someone you trust can be very healing. There’s just something powerful about not having to hold those thoughts and emotions deep within anymore.
We also know that talking about your feelings won’t make things worse; in fact, it's likely to make you feel a lot better about your feelings! And if you’re not ready to talk about some of the harder stuff, that’s okay! Metanoia Therapy therapists will never force you to talk about anything.
I’m ashamed that I need help.
Unfortunately there is still a stigma about getting help for your mental health, but asking for help is an incredibly brave thing to do. Being a human can be really tough sometimes. We all need and deserve some help and support. Taking care of yourself is so important and deciding to take care of your mental and emotional health is courageous. And it’s not uncommon that your therapist sees their own therapist! And we want you to know that needing some help is nothing to be ashamed of.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN THERAPY?
Therapy should be comfortable and a safe space for you to talk about your feelings, your life, and yourself. It may not always be easy, but your therapist is there to support you and help process your emotions. Our mental health is equally as important as our physical health, taking care of it is important.
At Metanoia Therapy, we understand how scary starting therapy is. Everyone is different, and we want to make sure that we are doing the best work to support you and your journey! We do this by making sure you know that you can be open about the anxiety you are feeling and know that we will listen and take things as slow as we need. Your feelings are valid and we will work with you to make positive change. We will work with you to determine what you want to get out of therapy and address your needs at your pace. And we will understand and respect who you are and what’s important to you. This is your journey, and we are happy to join you along the way!
Author: Mel Pascoe
