Theresa Noonan, M.A., LMFT

It's important to try to recognize what it is about the therapy process that concerns you. Are you afraid of bringing up painful memories? Are you afraid you may come to feel differently about others as you come to better understand yourself? Maybe you're afraid of understanding yourself or of changing your role in your life andor current relationships? Or maybe you've had a bad experience with therapy in the past? These are all valid concerns. These are also things to address with your therapist so he or she can help to ease these worries and concerns. Therapy is not meant to turn your world and beliefs upside down. It is not meant to place blame, rather, to understand the reason for things. It is not meant to vilify or idolize others, rather, to help you see the many perspectives in our relationships. And therapy is all about you, so it is important you find a therapist with whom you feel you can really open up. If you feel you cannot connect with your therapist, then find another with whom you can. The relationship one has with one's therapist has been shown to be one of the most important factors of effective therapy. If you feel you cannot be yourself with your therapist, then you might want to ask yourself if you are really taking care of yourself by staying in another relationship which keeps you from being your true self.

People often think therapy is for those who are "crazy". "If I am in therapy, then there must be something wrong with me," is the stigma many have regarding therapy. However, therapy is to help one understand oneself and to better understand the reasons for their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Therapy is seeking knowledge. It takes courage to acknowledge we sometimes need help and an inner strength to take those first steps to seek it. Therapy does not mean one is broken, but it does help to heal the many cracks we acquire as we go through life. While helping you to feel better, therapy can have some pretty painful moments, too. There's a good chance you're seeking therapy due to some difficult events or relationships you have experienced. To get to the heart of the problem, we need to visit the wounds. This takes a courage and strength which you may not have known you possess - but which you will find, in fact, you do.