Thinking about going to therapy? If so, there are a few things you should know first. Therapy is a very helpful technique, but only if you are properly prepared. Here’s what to know.

Find The Right Therapist

First, focus on finding the right therapist. Don’t just go to the cheapest one you can find or one that’s been recommended to you by a friend. If they helped your friend out, great, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they will help you the same. Certain counselors are better at certain types of problems, so be sure that you are finding one specializing in whatever it is you are dealing with.

Get A Consultation

Also, make sure that you get a consultation before booking your appointments. Most therapists will do a free consultation and this is your chance to essentially try them out and ensure you are a good match. You want to feel comfortable around your therapist and like this is someone who you could feel like opening up to.

Expect To Feel Uncomfortable

It’s also important that you expect yourself to feel uncomfortable at times. Know that therapy isn’t easy. You are likely going to uncover some painful moments you may rather just forget.

But if you truly want to get past what you are dealing with, this will be a necessary part of your mission.

You Won’t Be Solved in One Session

Some people make the mistake of going into therapy thinking that they will be better right away. In many cases, it can take months if not years to fully say you have gotten past the issues you are facing.

Keep in mind that if you have been dealing with a problem since childhood, you’ve had decades of time to let that influence you. You can’t erase all those years with one or two sessions. It’s important that you go in with realistic expectations or you will be setting yourself up for severe disappointment as time progresses along.

You should notice that with each session, you are making progress of some kind. You are learning about yourself and learning how to better control your thoughts and emotions. This is part of the therapy process.

Things May Get Worse Before Getting Better

Finally, note that things may get worse before they get better. You may find that as you uncover all these things from your past, you get very saddened by it and it can temporarily make the situation worse.

Know this is just a phase. If you’ve been bottling up feelings for many years, it’s no surprise that when they do finally come out, you are going to be a bit down about it all. Take comfort in knowing this too is just temporary and soon you’ll be in a much better position to deal with those feelings head-on and overcome whatever is challenging you.

Therapy is an ongoing journey but one that can be incredibly helpful if you let it. Find a good therapist to work with and be patient with the process. You’ll be off to great results.

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