How can therapy help me?

Many people want help with their mental health, and know that therapy can be a good thing to do, but wonder how does it help? How do I know that it will help me?

There are many different types of therapy, theories and techniques. It can feel overwhelming to even start looking into the different options! Fortunately, research has consistently shown that the most important factor is your relationship with your therapist, not the theory or techniques they use.

The relationship should be a safe space, a warm and trusting environment where you feel held, not judged and able to be your authentic self. It can take time to build this, particularly if you find close relationships tricky. The therapeutic relationship is incredibly intimate, yet safely boundaried, which can feel strange and uncomfortable at first.

Inside this relationship, the healing power of therapy can take place. Being truly accepted, understood and valued for who you are can allow you to start feeling more positive and compassionate towards yourself. Your therapist can help you to challenge unhelpful thinking and beliefs that keep you stuck. You'll become more self aware which will ultimately help you to have more choice and agency over how you feel and how you live.

I believe that everyone can be helped by therapy as there is no end point to personal growth. Whether you are at rock bottom, in crisis, mildly dissatisfied or somewhere in between, I'd encourage you to take the positive step of starting your therapy journey.