People often have the goal of improving their mental health but they don’t know how to start. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, relationship problems, or you simply want to be your best self in 2022, therapy is a great way to start. But how?
Decide what type of professional you need see
A therapist goes to school for the sole purpose of learning how to do therapy with people.
A psychiatrist goes to med school so that they can prescribe medication.
A psychologist goes to school to learn testing (like for ADHD) and also learns about doing therapy.
A social worker goes to school to learn about case management (like linking clients with services they need) but depending on their internship experience, they may also do therapy.
Find a therapist
There are many ways to find a therapist. Many people look at review sites, such as yelp, to find a therapist. Other people use word of mouth (getting a recommendation from a friend). Ultimately, you have to trust your gut feeling. It is okay to go with the first therapist you talk to and it is also okay to shop around and go to a therapy session with a few therapists and stick with the one you like the best.
Just do it!
The problem most people have with any New Year’s Resolution is just getting started. They talk themselves out of it and/or sabotage themselves. When you are making a healthy New Year’s Resolution, the best course of action is to just do it. Schedule an appointment with a therapist and GO. It’s sort of like working out in that it is really hard to get started but you rarely hear someone say they regret going. At Long Beach Therapy we allow clients to schedule online so that they can bypass that uncomfortable “first call” altogether. CLICK HERE to check out our therapists and set up an appointment.
How long will it take?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions that I get and I have written blog post after blog post after blog post about it. There are a number of factors that come into play. You can read the three blog posts that I linked to this paragraph, but ultimately it depends on how many barriers/issues come up along the way, how open and honest you are with your therapist, and how much work you are doing between your therapy sessions. Remember that you can stop therapy whenever you think you have gotten what you need out of it, but it is important to get started.
If you live in California and are looking for a therapist, please give us a call at Long Beach Therapy: 562-310-9741.