Some aspects to consider
If you're not in the world of psychology, therapy, or mental health, it can be difficult to know what therapy is or what it can really offer. Or why would someone decide to go? People decide to make contact with a therapist for many reasons, often either privately or through their NHS GP referral. This might be because of current problems or symptoms, difficult events from their past, to understand themselves better, or perhaps a combination of all three. Like anything unfamiliar or uncertain, sometimes it takes time for someone to feel ready to start.
With the right therapeutic relationship, therapy can be a nourishing and helpful, albeit sometimes challenging, experience.
Psychological therapy is also referred to as 'talking therapy'. For example, this might mean meeting with a therapist for an hour every week or fortnight. The content of sessions will vary, dependent on a few elements: the setting (e.g. NHS or private), the therapist's training and theoretical background, and of course, what you would like to share. How long you meet for will also depend on these same elements, and in the private sphere, cost too. In some cases you may have a 'one-off' session, or you may decide to meet for many more.
With the right therapeutic relationship, therapy can be a nourishing and helpful, albeit sometimes challenging, experience. It can offer individuals the opportunity and space to pause and reflect, both on their life and experiences, in a way they may not have done before. It would be our hope that this has the potential to lead to greater personal understanding and positive outcomes. Because everyone is unique, it would be fair to say that the impact of therapy is individual, and dependent on many factors. Anecdotally, people often initially comment they are looking for ways to manage or cope better, whatever concerns might have brought them to therapy.
The right therapist?
With any relationship, it's important to find the right 'fit'. While this is individual and it's hard to pinpoint exactly what that might look like, it's absolutely ok to say if you don't think a particular therapist is right for you. Your therapist may be able to offer a recommendation, or you might want to search again yourself. In the (we hope unlikely) event this did happen, we would encourage you to consider trying again.
With our best wishes.
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