I believe getting help should be an ordinary event – a normal part of life, as helpful and necessary – and accessible – as going to the doctor or dentist. You don’t have to have a ‘big’ problem to see a therapist, simply something you’d like to talk about: something that’s weighing on your mind which could use some expert attention.
There are many reasons people seek therapy. You could be depressed and anxious or unhappy. This could affect your relationships and performance at home and at work. You might be having conflicts around your sexual identity or sexuality. Becoming a parent can raise issues from your own childhood that were troublesome and which you need to make sense of now. Or your wish to see a therapist may arise from something else entirely.
Some people come to me when they’re in an acute crisis. Others come because they have been feeling empty and at a loss for some time, in which case it’s advisable not to delay seeking treatment.
Whatever the case and no matter what the problem, talking about it to a trained, sympathetic listener can help you see things in a different way and bring you relief.
We all create stories about ourselves and others, and sometimes we have to stop and pay careful attention to these stories. They may be correct, or stale and need refreshing, and sometimes they’re plain wrong and we need new stories to make sense of what is happening in our lives.
