VIEW

counselling

|

therapy

|

How Will I Know When I’m Better?

January 7, 2019

Liddy

Carver

Category:

Counselling

Therapy

How Will I Know When I’m Better?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

How Will I Know When I’m Better?

Going into therapy can often seem like a scary concept as you don’t know how long you will be there for or you may worry if it will even work. You might feel vulnerable and worried about having to open up about your mental health and the negative thoughts that have been plaguing your life. But, there’s nothing to be scared about, as therapy provides an open and safe space to share and discuss any issues. How long this process takes depends on the feelings expressed during the sessions and how long you feel you need outside help with your symptoms.As an expert who has worked with a wide variety of clients, I know how to tell when a person has successfully overcome their issues and is ready to move on from therapy. If you’re looking into therapy, or are currently in counselling now, and are wondering how long it will take, read on for my tips on recognising when you are getting better.

You Will Begin to Notice Changes

Therapy can seem like a long journey with no apparent end when the symptoms of your mental health issue are overpowering. Some sessions you may feel like no progress is being made while in others you can picture the light at the end of the tunnel. So, how do you know for sure when you are better and ready to tone down your therapy or stop it altogether? The best person to ask is yourself. You should begin to notice changes in your life like your responses to certain situations that indicate improvement. Whereas your anxiety might have prevented you from talking to new people, if you start making new friends more easily or can even now ask people on dates, you can see a definite change in your behaviour. Perhaps you’ve noticed that, rather than putting your head down and mumbling when ordering your coffee, you feel more comfortable talking to strangers. Although these may seem like small steps to someone else, for you they may be huge achievements and they are signalling that you are overcoming your fears. If you had symptoms of depression when you first joined therapy, a change in your attitude should signify when you are ready to end your treatment. You should find it easier getting up in the morning and to focus more on your work. When you get home, rather than wallowing in self-hatred or unhappiness, you can get tasks done and make time for yourself or catching up with the people you care about. You should have less negative feelings, with a more positive outlook on your life ahead. If these shifts in behaviour are starting to happen, the therapy is working.

Your Therapist Will Help You Decide

If you are having trouble deciding whether or not you are ready to go it alone, you can always ask your therapist for their advice. You already share deep and honest conversations with your therapist, but you can inform them of any changes you have noticed that they might not know. Keep track of all the physical changes you are experiencing as well as the mental ones. Your therapist might recommend keeping a log of how long you are sleeping and how frequently you experience stress-related headaches. When they start to see a change, with more hours slept and fewer problems, they can see the positive effects of the sessions.Your therapist might not be able to give you an exact end date as moods can change and symptoms can flare up, but they should be able to indicate how far your progress is moving. If you’re starting to see change more rapidly, it could be because you are finally ridding yourself of the last negativity and symptoms. However, if you are starting to feel down more or notice a change in your behaviour for the worse, there could be a delay in your recovery journey. Your therapist only wants what is best for you. While you can leave therapy at any time, they will make you aware of how much progress you are or aren’t making and whether or not you could benefit from more treatment, or if it is time to start reducing your sessions.

Don’t Be Afraid to Return to Therapy

Whenever you and your counsellor think you can end your sessions and face the world with a new lease of life, you shouldn’t feel like you can never come back. Therapy isn’t a one-time thing, and you can always return whenever you feel your symptoms are coming back. This may only be once or twice a year, but knowing that you have someone to help you if you struggle with a problematic situation can give you more confidence to live your daily life without fear or worry.There will always be an open door for you to return whenever you feel like it. A death in the family or loss of friendship or relationship can leave grief that’s hard to shift. No matter how much therapy you had or progress you made before, some people will always find times like this difficult to overcome on their own. Coming back to therapy for a few sessions reignites that strength created before, which helps you to address and move on from situations like these. Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of, and because you decided to return you shouldn’t feel like you aren’t good enough or have failed.Starting therapy can be terrifying. The prospect of having to share openly with a stranger and admit to mental health struggles scares many people, even though it shouldn't. Therapy is entirely private and is a safe space for honest sharing if you want real progress to be made. If you want to learn more about the services I offer, then feel free to contact me today.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Take the next step