Is It Time For Therapy?
Hello, my name is Mairo and I use she/her pronouns.
I am excited to join the Positive Perspectives team as a practicum student. I am currently completing my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Yorkville University and I am a Qualifying Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association.
Being born and raised in Nigeria until my late teens, mental health was not a topic of discussion. There was almost a denial of its existence. But upon reflection, I’ve found it could be due to several factors, such as prioritizing basic needs first. It personally took me quite a bit of time to finally embark on my journey to explore what mental health is, what taking care of myself means or looks like, find and define my identity, work on articulating and processing my repressed feelings, and finally discovering the joy that advocating for mental health services/resources with and for others brings me.
Before beginning my therapy journey, I wondered what being supported in a therapeutic setting would be like. Knowing that I was certainly going to pursue an education that would result in me being a therapist, I did not want to be the therapist who is a “know it all” or the person who says, “I don’t have any issues, my life is perfect.” Because none of these phrases are true to my authentic self.
Let’s be honest:
We all have something about ourselves or our lives that we can work on or work through at different times. However, working through those things should be on your terms and when you are ready.
I can confidently say that from my experience, therapy works. But will it work for you? Yes. No. Maybe not right now.
Considering the above question, if your answer is yes and you know therapy works deep down in your heart, I am glad you know. Realization is often the first step. So what are you waiting for?
If your answer is no, have you tried it? If not, I encourage you to. If you have tried therapy and had a negative experience, I encourage you not to give up and try again. Imagine therapy is like shopping for a perfect outfit for an important event. To find the perfect outfit, you may need to go to multiple stores. In some stores, you will encounter the worst customer service, which might effect your mood and deter you from continuing to look for an outfit for a few days. However, you might find yourself venturing out again at some point to keep looking until you find it.
If your answer is maybe not right now, I encourage you to assess and consider why. Sometimes the cards of life just do not align at a particular time. And that’s okay!
I want to acknowledge that for some, therapy can be an investment. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. If you’re curious whether therapy might be a good fit for you, I’d like for you to explore these questions below.
1. What are the things going well in your life? Starting with gratitude can be a helpful place to start!
2. What things in your life are not going well or could be better?
3. Could exploring these things with someone in a therapeutic setting be helpful?
4. What are 3 things you would like your therapist know about?
5. Would you prefer if your therapist has similar lived experiences as you?
5. What format (in-person or virtual) of therapy do you prefer?
6. Does this person’s availability fit into your current schedule?
7. Can you afford therapy or do you have access to insurance?
If cost is a barrier for you right now, you have options! I would love to chat more with you about the sliding scale session fees available at Positive Perspectives.
A quick last note for you:
Please remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Therapy offers a safe and confidential space to explore your thoughts and feelings, develop coping strategies, and, ultimately, has the incredible potential to improve your overall quality of life as the beautiful human you are.
If at the end of reading this blog post, you feel it’s the right time for you to start, I am welcoming new clients and would be happy to begin working with you.
I offer in-person sessions in the evenings on Mondays and Fridays, as well as video sessions on Saturdays.
Our inbox is always open for any comments, questions or suggestions on blog posts you’d like to see in the future! You can contact us at positive.info.wpg@gmail.com.
