HONOR YOUR JOURNEY BY SAMANTHA CAMERA
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eeking therapy doesn’t mean you are weak or flawed—it means you’re human. Life can be challenging, from relationships to jobs to finding value or even joy within a person’s life. Unfortunately, the stigma around therapy can still make reaching out feel isolating or even shameful. However, seeking support is a courageous step toward living authentically and fully. It’s a powerful decision that can lead to significant personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself. Therapy is not just for people in crisis; it’s for anyone who wants to gain insight, learn strategies, and find a sense of peace, whether through addressing anxiety, depression, grief, or even something as practical as creating a sustainable routine. For individuals of faith, therapy can be an opportunity to integrate spiritual beliefs into the healing process. This integration can provide comfort and guidance, connecting to something more significant as you navigate life’s challenges. Therapists can help you explore how faith informs your patterns, values, and choices, supporting you in aligning your spiritual life with your mental and emotional well-being.
• Did I feel heard and understood? • Was the therapist’s communication style a good fit for me? • Do they understand or respect my faith?
Finding the Right Therapist
Having these check-ins with yourself after the 15-minute consultations can save you time and money and help you reach the goals you want to achieve from therapy. Therapy is a vulnerable process, and a solid therapeutic relationship creates the foundation for meaningful progress.
When considering starting therapy, these questions might serve as a helpful guide to finding a therapist:
What to Expect in Therapy
• Do I prefer a therapist of a specific gender? • Would I feel more comfortable with in-person or online sessions? If online, do I have a private, distraction-free space where I can focus? • How often can I commit to therapy (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)? • Is it essential for my therapist to incorporate faith into our work? Illustration: Adobe
When deciding to take steps to find a therapist, there can be a lot of avenues to go down; you can Google “psychotherapist near me” or “psychotherapist who works with _________ (add symptoms or things you are experiencing). There are also many directories of therapists online, including Psychology Today, Open Path Collective, and TherapyDen. You can use the filters on these platforms to find a therapist who meets your needs. Many therapists have 15-minute consultations where you can meet and chat with the therapist to know if you feel comfortable with that person. Ask yourself the following questions after the 15-minute consultation:
• Will I use insurance, or will I pay out of pocket? If using insurance, how much does my insurance company cover? Call your insurance company and ask if they have any providers in your network that can cover therapy. If not using insurance, what is your budget for therapy?
Your first session with a therapist is often called an intake session. During this meeting, the therapist will ask questions about your goals, background, and struggles. Topics might include your personal and family history, medical background, and reasons for seeking therapy now. You’ll also discuss confidentiality and the therapist’s responsibilities, including mandatory reporting laws. After the first session, you might feel drained, exhausted, excited, relieved, or all the above. Just note that not all sessions will go like the initial session; after the initial session, therapy will focus on understanding more of the patterns and how they appear and digging deeper into the goals for treatment. Many of us may have long-term behavioral patterns and other struggles, and it can take equally as long to make a change. A M AT T E R O F S P I R I T
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