Rebuilding Yourself: Healing Old Wounds & Building Self-Compassion. People seek therapy for various reasons, ranging from day-to-day stressors to relationship issues to difficulties in participating in life. There are no problems too big or small when reaching out for help.
Mental illness affects one in five Canadians in their lifetimes. A survey by Sun Life found that 54% of people impacted by mental health issues reported NOT receiving medical/mental health support. When we use the term “mental illness”, it often describes symptoms that interfere with your work, relationships, or unhealthy coping skills. Seeking therapy for even feeling “off” is a great way to take ownership of your mental wellness.
If you’re feeling “off”, does that mean you should book an urgent appointment? Probably not. However, if being “off” is increasing your substance misuse, your anxiety, your stress, your depression or lowering your self-esteem, it might be worth reaching out to see what can help.
There are two types of therapists you can seek help from:
Supportive: They support your needs and wants. They offer space to discuss your issues and emotions and help you search for solutions.
Clinical: They are supportive while providing actionable skills to help you process your emotions. Help you recognise the story you are telling yourself and teach you skills that adjust your behaviour to create that intentional outcome you are looking to achieve.
Before starting with any therapist, find out if you and they are a fit. There are six key questions to ask the therapist before sharing important details of your issue.
1. What is your approach to therapy, and how are you different from other therapists?
You are looking to see if they are supportive and clearly define what they do or how well they sell themselves. If you know what type of therapy you want, you can ask more about that.
2. Do you specialise in any particular problem?
An example of why this is important is if you want to recover from an abusive ex and the therapist specialises in sleeping disorders, that is not necessarily a good match.
3. What should I expect in a typical session?
4. Given the problem I’ve described to you, to what extent do you believe the therapy you do will be helpful for me?
This is where you can feel if they were able to understand the problem described if they have a brief plan of what would work with you and how confident they are in achieving those outcomes.
5. How should I approach you if I feel there is a problem with the therapy or the therapeutic relationship?
6. How will I know when therapy is no longer needed?
This is such a great question because therapy aims to acquire the help/skills needed to get that intentional outcome you came to therapy to achieve. Therapy should be a time-sensitive plan (assuming one issue and not a complex need). As the client, it will be vital for you to know what you want to get out of therapy so you know when you are done.
If you have symptoms that you feel need some attention, scheduling an appointment is a great start. Investing in yourself and prioritising your mental wellness will help you achieve those intentional outcomes. Access free consults to ask the six questions before a formal meeting with a therapist. Keep in mind that if you don’t click with a therapist, that doesn’t mean therapy won’t work. Talk with different therapists and find your match.
If you feel discouraged, keep in mind that it’s worth it to put in the time to find someone who can help support your long-term goals. With the right therapist, you will build trust and achieve your intentional outcomes.
You can get in touch with us, book an appointment, or schedule a free consultation to start your therapy journey.
