The Reality of Therapy
Starting therapy can be daunting for many. It’s not uncommon for one to be filled with apprehension, reluctance, lots of back and forth (do I really need therapy? I don’t think my problems are that bad), along with curiosity and excitement.
To help ease the process we thought it’d be apt to bring out a few real-life experiences. Here are a few descriptions of how people felt before getting into therapy, and how they felt about it after.
“I genuinely had mixed feelings starting therapy, I thought either it would "fix" all my issues, or I'd be too embarrassed to talk about any of them. Little did I know most of what I thought were issues wouldn't be the discussion I'd have every week and in fact more things would surface. The most surprising thing is, I've come to peace with the fact that I can't really "fix" things try as I may and that fact helps me every single day. However cliché it may sound therapy for me has been a journey of being better for and to myself, and I still remain on that road, but I'm happy I've found it :)”
- JR
“Going into therapy came with a lot of questions - whether therapy works, how would it solve my problems, I was not even sure what were my problems exactly and I was often ashamed to convey those to any of my friends or family. Now, it’s been almost a year of taking regular therapy sessions and I feel that it was the best decision of my life. Not only was I able to work on myself, identify my problem in detail with my therapist’s support but I was able to learn how to listen to my own self. Now, instead of running on auto-pilot by my feelings and emotions, I am able to have a conversation with myself during difficult situations. Therapy experience is uplifting, hard work, interesting and the biggest of all, healing.”
- JK
“When my brain started to look at my pocket knife as a potential tool to kill myself, I knew It was time for therapy. I was at a loss. Life seemed gloomy, dark, and pointless. I came across The Burrow on Instagram. I loved how therapy felt normal, not packed with techniques or words you can't understand. Today, one year later, I'm confident, have self-esteem, and have an array of boundaries. I have learned to process my emotions to set boundaries without guilt. I have also accomplished things I never thought I could live in life. Forever grateful for my therapist.”
- BR
"It is not counseling and it is not a place to find solutions. It is a journey to discover oneself with the therapist’s right guidance, direction and support. Unlike the instant gratification people seek these days, therapy is a slow process which takes its own sweet time before showing the results. It asks for patience and perseverance from both the therapist and the seeker. Therapy can change life and resolve inner conflicts if one is ready with a don't-give-up attitude even when things get tough."
- GJ
"I used to think that therapy is just you lying on a couch talking about things that bothered you while someone asks "And how does that make you feel". My very first experience with therapy went something like this, but now I realise that it's much more than that.
Therapy has helped me realise that it's okay to unlearn certain things which makes you question yourself and hold yourself in bad light. I got to learn about setting healthy boundaries and that it's okay to put myself first sometimes. It helps me organise my thoughts better. And I also realised that it's not an easy process, but I get to work on myself and accept all versions of myself."
- AV
A common theme is the mixed feelings one has before getting started, we’re not sure what to expect. Our mind is filled with images and information from various media platforms, things we may have heard about in a casual social setting, contradicting information – horror stories as well as those of success, and of course, the stigma. It’s no wonder why starting therapy can be so tough, why you may be thinking about it for months before actually booking a session, know you are not alone.
Being vulnerable is a huge risk to take and as the experiences above showed us, for the most part, this risk can benefit you immensely. We only hope you find the right fit and environment to experience the same.
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