Thinking About Therapy? How to Know When the Time Is Right

You don't have to be in crisis to start therapy.

For some people coming for psychotherapy, they may have spent a number of years with the idea of attending a therapist floating around in their mind.

They may be aware of issues from childhood that they have never told anyone about or they have become aware of how their childhood is now impacting on them as an adult and they wonder if the space to talk about it might help.

It can feel lonely and very heavy to carry these issues around in our minds for many years on our own.

Others may have heard from concerned loved ones that psychotherapy may help them to understand themselves better.

You may be curious to learn more about yourself and your relationships.

Often people arrive in therapy via a GP recommendation to help with dealing with an ongoing difficult situation or low mood/anxiety, for example.

It can sometimes take a significant event such as an accident or bereavement or relationship breakdown to encourage someone to seek out psychotherapy. However, you do not have to be in crisis to start therapy.

It can feel liberating as if the weight of the world is taken off our shoulders when we tell someone about what we have been carrying for some time.

We can all carry shame and embarrassment about secrets and issues from our past and, when we tell someone who doesn't know us, we may be surprised and relieved that the person listening is not shocked or disgusted or uncomfortable.

Being listened to in a non-judgemental way can help us to release the past to allow us to feel unburdened.

It can feel refreshing to be listened to in a compassionate way without any conditions attached or advice given.

I am lucky to have the honour to sit with people who want to release the past and feel lighter in themselves.

There is a lot of truth to the phrase 'a problem shared is a problem halved'.

From my own personal experience of therapy, it is always a relief to speak about things that have been playing on my mind in the safety of the therapy room (Yes, therapists go to therapy!)

I always leave a session feeling lighter.

Trust your gut with regard to the timing of starting therapy.

It is never too late to start and, if starting therapy has been in the back of your mind for some time, remember that a first appointment gives you the chance to get a feel of whether this is for you or not and you should not be pressured into committing to more than an initial appointment for this reason.

Feeling comfortable with your therapist is important.

Seek out an accredited psychotherapist/counsellor via the Irish Association for Counselling And Psychotherapy website www.iacp.ie.

To book an appointment with Nicola, see her availability by clicking here

psychotherapist limerick, psychotherapist newcastlewest, psychotherapist adare, IACP psychotherapist limerick, counsellor limerick, counsellor newcastlewest, counsellor adare, counselling limerick, counselling adare, counselling newcastlewest, accredited counsellor limerick, accredited psychotherapist limerick, trauma counselling limerick, trauma therapy limerick, trauma therapy ireland, PTSD Ireland, CPTSD Ireland, online counselling Ireland, online trauma counselling Ireland,

how to leave a relationship, relationship anxiety, toxic relationship signs, emotional abuse signs, counselling near me, therapist Ireland, online therapy Ireland, anxiety symptoms, how to reduce anxiety, signs of burnout, symptoms of burnout, how to leave a relationship, narcissistic abuse,

how to calm anxiety, Nicola Hogg