Exploring the Decision: Is Therapy the Right Choice for Me?

When we hear the word “therapy”  we most often think something needs to be wrong in order to be in therapy. But that doesn’t have to be true! Therapy is an opportunity for you to meet with a trained professional to support you in meeting your goals. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours and learn new ways to live into your values and achieve your goals.

Questions to ask yourself when considering therapy:

• Am I ready to do the work?
• Are you open to making time in your schedule?
• Are you willing to try new things and use strategies discussed in the session?
• Are you open to being honest with yourself about what is and isn’t working in your life?

If you are going to commit to engaging in therapy, you may have to stretch out of your comfort zone. Therapists are here to support you every step of the way, meeting you where you are and guiding you through the process when you’re ready and willing.

Signs you should consider therapy:

• Do you feel like you are living life on auto-pilot mode? Are you doing things because you are expected to versus actually wanting to?
• Is it difficult to fall asleep at night? Would you describe yourself as an overthinker?
• Are you avoiding conflict in your relationships? Do you feel disconnected from others around you?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then therapy could be a good place to start! We can usually recognize when there is a problem but feel overwhelmed or don’t know how to fix it. Through therapy, you’ll have the chance to dive deeper into the underlying causes of these challenges and discover solutions that align with your needs.

Therapy can also be used for exploratory purposes

• Do you want a better understanding of why you think/feel the way you do?
• Do you want to strengthen your sense of self to ground yourself during difficult times?

If there is no specific challenge in your life currently, therapy can still benefit greatly. A Therapist can support you in reflection and guide you through activities to strengthen your knowledge about yourself and become clearer about what you value and are passionate about.

How is therapy different than talking to my family or friend(s)?

• Therapists are bound by privacy and confidentiality laws. You do not have to worry about having your secrets shared or about how others may view you after sharing.
• Therapists are non-judgmental people who are able to hold space for you and your feelings.
• Therapists are trained professionals who have engaged in higher learning to support specific challenges.
• Therapists can provide suggestions and resources that are tailored specifically to you.
• A therapist is an objective, unbiased person who will support you and challenge you as needed.

If you feel overwhelmed about where to start, take Shift Collab’s Therapist Matching Questionnaire for personalized and instant therapist recommendations. From there, you can choose to book a Meet & Greet or initial session to learn how therapy can be tailored to you and your specific needs and preferences.