{"id":123,"date":"2019-07-25T13:01:22","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T11:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/18.185.92.33\/?p=123"},"modified":"2025-06-24T18:20:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T16:20:02","slug":"is-it-the-right-time-for-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/complicated.life\/blog\/is-it-the-right-time-for-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It The Right Time For Therapy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Common Fears Around Going To Counselling<\/strong> and What to Expect<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is this the right time for me? How will I know?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In life, it is never quite the right time. We are very good at giving ourselves excuses and putting things off, so we don\u2019t have to deal with the stuff. Often, taking small steps, such as researching therapists, finding out who is available in your area, or maybe starting to share with friends\/family about considering therapy (or not, if you prefer to keep it private), are all good indicators that you are preparing yourself for therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking the next step might feel like the hard part, and this is common for many people. To help, you can request a short introduction session, or speak to the therapist by phone or Skype, putting a name to a face before starting therapy. Of course, as human beings, we can change our minds and come back to it at a later date, and that’s okay too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Therapy is often seen as something accessible to those with education and money, including the therapists themselves. However, therapy has evolved from this.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t want to talk to a stranger.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is the therapist\u2019s job to make you feel comfortable and give you the space and time to open up. The advantages of talking to a stranger are that they initially know nothing about your past and are not personally involved in your life. They won\u2019t get bored listening to you or try to give you advice like friends sometimes do. Therapy then becomes your private space to talk to a trained professional about what\u2019s going on with you, without judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapy is too much of a commitment for me.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Therapy is a commitment, no doubt about it. However, there are different types of therapy with varying time frames associated with them. Some are traditionally longer-term, e.g., Psychoanalysis, and others are tailored to shorter-term work, e.g., Solution Focused Therapy and some types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therapists often make some kind of assessment, either formally or informally, in the first session to give you a rough estimate of how long therapy might be. Also, many therapists conduct reviews throughout therapy to ensure you are on track, getting what you want from therapy, and not working indefinitely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a practical standpoint, you might have some money set aside to work on specific issues you want to bring to therapy. Again, discuss your expectations with your prospective therapist to align with their assessment or modality. I would also recommend reading my colleague’s blog about what to look for when finding a therapist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It's Complicated is the first matching service that balances data and human intelligence. Our team of matching specialists will help you find the right therapist.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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My problems are not bad enough. Other people go to therapy, not me. Other people are worse off than I am.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We have this idea around mental health that things have to be really bad before we seek help. Consider how we treat our physical health and the money and time we might invest in maintaining our physical bodies. What is difficult or worrying for you may not be the same for someone else, but this absolutely does not make your experiences or feelings less valid. The therapist’s job is to help you navigate and unpack what is important to you, whatever that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Starting to share with loved ones about considering therapy is a good indicator that you are preparing yourself for therapy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m worried that I will unleash a Pandora’s box of stuff that I don\u2019t want to deal with.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Therapy is a process of building self-awareness on a journey of self-discovery, of healing old wounds and finding new ways forward. You may discover uncomfortable truths about yourself, but the therapeutic process ensures that these are unpacked in a non-shaming and healing manner. It is true that clients may experience a dip after the first few sessions, particularly when difficult material starts to unfold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The therapist\u2019s job is to hold this space for you while this happens, providing a safe enough space for the therapeutic work to occur. Therapists also cannot force you to talk about things you don’t want to discuss. Maybe it\u2019s not the right time for you, or you only want to delve into some aspects of your history. You\u2019re allowed to say no or say, “I\u2019m not ready yet,” and that’s okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only privileged people or people with money go to therapy.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is true that historically, therapy draws from a privileged, white, classist system. Therapy is often seen as something accessible to those with education and money, including the therapists themselves. However, therapy has evolved from this, with a shift over the last twenty years to make it more accessible to all, including a divergence in the types of therapy available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to therapy may depend on your privilege, the healthcare system you have access to, and sometimes simply the availability in your area, including the time you can commit, especially if you work long hours. Therapy has become less stigmatized in terms of shame around mental health, and more people are openly accessing therapy and discussing it with their friends and family. Some therapists offer a sliding scale or reduced rates, often with limited space availability, to accommodate clients where access to regular income is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our directory contains 2500+ vetted therapists. Use our advanced search tool to find the one that fits your exact needs and preferences.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Further reading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

How to Know When It\u2019s Time to See a Therapist<\/a> – verywellmind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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