Risks & Benefits

Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. You may want to ask specific questions that are important to you like your goals, fears, etc. [See How to Choose Counselor for potential questions] You should discuss any concerns as they arise. You may want to ask your counselor to refer you if its not a good fit.

The point is just because personalities do not fit or a difference of opinion may occur, its important to separate therapist from therapy. If your struggling, there is a right therapist for you.

Its important to understand the difference between not a good fit and uncomfortable. You will most likely be uncomfortable because talking about the obstacles and difficulties in your life is hard especially if your past or present wasn’t a walk in the park. However, I like to tell my clients its similar to dental work…

Mental health therapy can bring great benefits. You may learn more about yourself, your triggers, and tools to improve your self-image, relationships, and/or acceptance. Things that are weighing heavy on you, may get lighter. Or you may simply just understand why patterns in your life keep occurring. Of course, you may not… which is a major risk to therapy.

Another risk is finding meaning and/or understanding in your situation may have unforeseen consequences. It may change how you see the people that are important in your life including yourself. You may remember things you didn’t want to remember.