Ready to Talk? Where to Start When Seeking Therapy

So, you’re ready to talk through your issues with a professional? Well done!

This is the vital first step to emotional recovery and mental stability – admitting that you need support.

The next step? Finding a therapist, you can trust with your vulnerable thoughts and feelings.

Airing your dirty laundry is not easy, nor is staying compliant to consistent attendance of your therapy sessions – especially when you are tackling challenging issues and learning confronting things about yourself and your life in the process.

Scared to move forward with therapy? Let us talk you through it.

First Steps: Acknowledging That You Need Professional Help

Admitting you need help from a licensed therapist takes guts. Indeed, therapy is not for the weak. On the contrary, seeking the professional support you need requires a great deal of strength and self-awareness.

And, once you get to your therapy session, actually opening up to your counselor can be terrifying. It can uncover painful memories you may have chosen to repress, and also, teach you things about yourself you may never have realized.

At first, then, you may be tempted instead to just lean on the people closest to you – choosing to spill your guts to your friends and family members rather than connecting with a mental health practitioner. But, after a while, your incessant venting may take a considerable mental toll on your loved ones.

In addition to this, your nearest and dearest may not be properly equipped to provide you with the sound, rational, unbiased advice you need, or the in-depth emotional support required to get you through life’s challenges.

A better idea? Consult a qualified counseling professional – one who has been industry-accredited by completing the requisite mental health counseling masters programs online. But, how do you even find a counselor who has the necessary qualifications, and who also happens to be on your wavelength? Stay with us as we run you through this process.

Moving Forward: Researching, Locating, and Connecting With Your New Therapist

So, you’ve come to terms with the fact that you need to go to therapy. But where do you actually find a good therapist, though? The truth is, there are many useful mental health resources out there that can help you locate a quality mental health practitioner to support you through life’s heavy moments.

First, try looking online. Do a quick internet search to see which local mental health clinics are available in your area. Once you’ve found a clinic, take a look at their website.

Often, the site will include digital profiles of the clinic’s staff – read through each one, and decide which of them appears to be the most compatible with your needs.

Does a certain therapist’s professional bio resonate closely with your personality? Perhaps, the counselor’s description of themselves makes them sound warm, caring, and nurturing.

Or, do they come across as a rational, logical professional you can trust to display sound judgment in times of crisis? Identifying what you need from your therapist, and matching their attributes to your needs, will assist you greatly in your quest to connect with a quality counselor.

In addition to doing online research, do not discount the power of word of mouth! Likely, someone you know is already attending therapy. And chances are, they will have valuable advice to give about how they found their therapist – if you just bite the bullet and ask them to share it with you. Attending counseling sessions is, thankfully, becoming increasingly mainstream.

The best part? Many of us are beginning to realize how important it is to take care of our mental health and are also learning not to shy away from seeking help when we need it.

Keep it Going: Building and Maintaining a Positive Patient / Counselor Relationship

You’ve taken those vital first steps, and connected with your ideal counselor. Now, you need to stay consistent with your therapy sessions.

Admittedly, therapy takes work. And just like personal training sessions in the gym, you’ll need to attend multiple sessions over time to see results. Your brain is a muscle, after all, and you need to train it to become resilient enough to overcome life’s battles, as well as actively cultivate a positive mental condition with the assistance of your therapist.

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