If you have never been in therapy before, it can be a scary decision, even an overwhelming one. Some people think of therapy as a last resort, one which they wouldn’t use unless the situation were completely dire. I think therapy is a wonderful tool for those who simply would like to make their lives better. If you have experienced any of the following, you can probably be helped by good therapy:

• Change in sleeping patterns
• Change in eating patterns
• Frequent worry or jitteriness
• Inability to sit still or to do what needs to be done
• Crying spells, periods of sad mood
• Negative thinking
• Phobias
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Self-defeating behavior
• Difficulty carrying on after a life change, for example, the loss of someone close, divorce, change in work or career status, family roles, and so on.

Therapy ideally represents a safe place to be heard when you at the top of your game as well as when you feel very low. Your needs come first here, and so this is unlike any other relationship. You can feel comfortable to bring up topics which you may not feel able to bring up, even with those close to you.

If you have questions about what to look for in a therapist, I recommend the website www.goodtherapy.org