This short piece kindly written by a client, describes her experience of entering therapy and all the fears that go alongside.
My first experience with Therapy
I thought about going to therapy for 2 years on and off. I would convince myself I would contact someone after an especially stressful week or something big happening in my life.
And I did contact a few therapists over the 2 years before I met Karen, but always chickened out at the last minute.
I would tell myself I didn’t have the time or money.
I would constantly tell myself “There’s nothing wrong with you why would you need therapy?”, “You have a great life, stop overthinking”, “People are a lot worse off than you in the world, get over yourself”.
I was always worried about what people would think if they found out. Would they label me as damaged?
I was especially scared of telling my boyfriend, I wanted him to see me as a cheery girlfriend not someone who was struggling with their mental health. I started to see the issues around mental health being more widely discussed.
Suddenly famous people, people who seemed to have it all we’re coming out and speaking about their struggles.
Friends and family started saying how they also felt like they had “dark days” and some we’re even taking medication for it, it started to normalise it for me, we are all humans and we all have struggles, regardless of the lives we live.
Now I had to get over my fear of going.
My image of a therapist was always of a stern-looking person who made you lay down on this uncomfortable-looking leather couch and keeps repeating “and how does that make you feel?”.
Even the thoughts of this made me feel anxious.
“What I’ve learned…..”
But what I’ve learned over the last few months doing sessions with Karen is that it’s nothing like that. Every session is focused on what I want to talk about and if I have nothing in particular to talk about Karen will make some suggestions about what we could discuss.
For me personally, it isn’t about speaking about traumatic past experiences or how my parents acted when I was a child (I thought this was all people did at therapy).
We talk about my everyday life and things that may be making me feel sad, stressed, anxious, angry etc and we work through them. Most days it feels like a conversation where I get to say everything I feel to someone without being judged, usually Karen reassures me everything I’m feeling is normal and gives me some “tools for my toolbox” to help me deal these feelings. These are things to practice at home, noticing my thoughts, how I REACT to situations, how my thoughts have an impact on me doing things I love.
“Sessions via skype or whatsapp video….”
I choose to do my sessions over skype, or whats app video call – I find this works for me as I can be in the comfort of my home with my cup of tea and my dogs by my side. I don’t find there is a problem with having a relationship over the internet. Sometimes it’s just easier as I don’t have the hassle of travelling to appointments, 5 minutes before I put the computer on.
“Give it a go, don’t be afraid “
I think therapy is about finding what works for you.
We are all different and there will never be a one size fits all. But I would recommend therapy to anyone, who feels like they need help to get it.
Don’t let the image of therapy you may have in your head, put you off.
Thankyou to my client KB for being so honest in this blog.
If you can relate to any of the issues and are feeling scared about taking the first leap then hopefully this will have reassured you.
We offer a free initial chat to discuss your current difficulties.
Check out www.outofsynctherapy.com
email contact@outofsynctherapy.com
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