03/12/2021
When to begin psychotherapy?
Starting therapy is often a pivotal moment in one’s life. How do you know when is the right time? Some of us will play with the idea for years, and find excuses before we actually make the call. Others will contact someone on an impulse and then not show up after a couple of sessions. While often people just know it, here are some thoughts on when to start therapy.
It may be your time to start therapy if:
- You realize that the way you are dealing with problems is not working out for you anymore. In other words, your defense mechanisms are out of date or overused, and instead of alleviating your pain, they are adding to your suffering.
- You’ve suffered long enough. Most of us have spent considerable time suffering (e.g., feeling depressed or anxious, caught up in dysfunctional relationship patterns, feeling ‘not like oneself’, having nightmares, etc., before we finally ask for professional help.
- You want to share the weight. You’ve been carrying a lot of burden by yourself and you may have lost perspective. You're looking for some guidance and a hand to share the weight.
- You’ve been feeling lonely and isolated. Opening up to a therapist can be the first step to break through the walls of isolation.
- You’re ready to make a commitment to yourself and make a change in your life.
- You're curious to get to know yourself better.
Psychotherapy is a process of expanding our self awareness. It is a journey of exploration and discovery where together with our therapist we learn about our ways of thinking, feeling, relating, and moving in this world, so we can make more conscious choices in our lives.
