The Courage to Seek Therapy: When You Know You Need Support but Don't Know What Comes Next

There is a certain kind of courage that comes with admitting, “What I've been doing isn't working anymore.”

You may know that you need support, but that doesn't necessarily mean you feel comfortable seeking it.

Maybe therapy wasn't something you grew up with. Maybe you're used to praying, pushing through, taking things one day at a time, talking to family or trusted friends, seeking wisdom from elders, reading books, trying wellness programs, or simply telling yourself to keep going.

And maybe you've tried a lot of those things.

Maybe some of them helped. Maybe they helped for a season.

But something still doesn't feel right.

Now you're considering therapy, and suddenly you're faced with another unknown.

What will therapy be like? What will I have to talk about? Will my therapist judge me? What if I don't know what to say? What if I cry?

When therapy isn't something you're accustomed to, it's easy to fill in the blanks with what you've seen on television, social media, or heard from other people.

That can make taking the first step feel even more overwhelming.

Seeking Therapy Does Not Mean Something Is Wrong With You

One of the biggest barriers to seeking therapy can be misunderstanding what therapy actually means.

You may have heard that needing therapy means you're weak, that you should be able to handle things yourself, or that asking for help means you've failed.

It doesn't.

Seeking therapy does not mean you are giving up.

It does not mean you are broken.

It does not make you less of a person.

And if faith is important to you, seeking counseling does not make you less of a Christian.

Sometimes you simply need additional support outside of yourself.

There is strength in recognizing that you don't have to continue doing the same things and hoping for a different result.

The First Step Can Feel Bigger Than People Realize

Even submitting your information to a counseling practice can feel like a huge step.

It can be your way of saying:

“I've reached a point where I don't want to keep carrying this by myself.”

At Renewed Roots Counseling, I want that first step to feel a little less intimidating.

After you reach out, I'll follow up so we can talk about what brings you to counseling and what you're hoping to gain from the experience.

We can schedule a 15-minute consultation to talk through your concerns, your goals, my approach to therapy, and what getting started may look like.

You can also ask questions about things like insurance, private pay, session frequency, and what to expect next.

You don't have to have everything figured out before you reach out.

What Happens After the Consultation?

If we decide that moving forward makes sense, we'll begin the intake process.

This may include completing forms, consent documents, and assessments that help me better understand what you're experiencing.

During your intake session, we'll spend more time getting to know you and your story.

We'll talk about your current concerns, your experiences, your history, and the areas of your life that may be affecting how you're feeling today.

From there, we'll begin identifying goals for therapy and developing a plan together.

Therapy Is a Process, Not a Quick Fix

My approach to therapy is collaborative. I meet each person where they are and work with them toward meaningful goals.

Depending on your needs, therapy may involve learning ways to manage what you're experiencing, developing healthier coping skills, understanding how your past may connect with your present, doing deeper therapeutic work, and eventually applying what you've learned as you move forward.

Therapy may also involve things to practice between sessions.

It is conversational, educational, and collaborative.

And honestly, it doesn't always feel good in the moment.

Healing can require us to look at things we have avoided, understand patterns we didn't recognize before, and practice doing things differently.

But the goal is not for you to stay in therapy forever.

The hope is that you gain the understanding, skills, confidence, and support you need to continue moving forward.

You Don't Have to Wait 

You don't have to reach a breaking point before you are allowed to ask for help.

You don't have to prove that you're struggling enough.

You don't have to know exactly what's wrong.

You simply have to recognize that you may need support.

If you've been thinking about therapy but feeling nervous about what happens next, that's okay.

You can be uncertain and still take the first step.

At Renewed Roots Counseling, I'm here to help make that first step feel a little more understandable.