End of the Beginning

After four weeks of using the counseling service Better Help, I’m happy with the developments so far. Therapy has given me a place to open up more, be honest, and get ideas out of my own head. While I’m not sure how long I will continue, for now I plan to do so for at least a few months. It’s certainly not a solution for every problem, but it helped me in areas I needed help in.

The Good, The Bad, and The Forgettable

Therapy is a trial I’ve been meaning to do for some time, but I always had an excuse not to do it. I actually almost switched at the last moment, but the day before starting I had a meltdown emotionally. Shortly after I realized, I really needed to talk to someone.

At first, I expected my problems to be a hydra. Work on one problem, and two more spawn in its place. In the first session, I discussed a singular issue I’d been struggling with at the time, but while talking new ones whispered in the back of my mind. Staying focused, I kept on the first topic. After a couple of days, most of the other issues worked themselves out or tended to not be real problems in the first place.

One thing I was surprised in my experience was that I was able to share a surprising amount of good stuff with my therapist. I expected it to be week after week of sharing my challenges, and her guiding me out of it. Instead, I had a few rough days where talking with her helped me out of a negative headspace, but a lot of good days where I was sharing great things from my day.

Not a Panacea

Talking out a problem can be the first step in dealing with it, but often it is far from the last. While working with a therapist can offer next steps, I am the one who needs to take them. Everything I’ve discussed so far in therapy has had a follow up action required. Some small like changing a mindset, others larger like developing better habits.

At the end of the day, there are some problems that will require good old fashioned work. I’ve been trying to write more outside of this blog, but have been struggling to make the time. In my last session, I asked about any advice for making this new desire a true priority. There wasn’t much my therapist could offer at the time. She did share some methods to help after some further research. What ultimately needs to happen is that I need to put in the work.

Setting Sights Ahead

In conclusion, I’ve enjoyed my few sessions so far using the online therapy service Better Help. It’s a bit more expensive than I’d like to be paying, but from the little looking I did it’s cheaper than an in person alternative. I believe it’s possible to qualify for financial assistance if needed, a plus for people who really need the help but can’t afford it.

In the long run, I am not sure I’ll continue beyond a few months. Admittedly, it’s easy to dismiss the benefits of therapy when things have been going well lately. If challenges arise in the near future, I may remember how truly helpful the early experience was. I look forward to continuing this new part of my life, and hope to share updates in the future.

For the next trial, I’m going to be switching things up a bit. After an introspective, emotional trial, I wanted to take things to a more lighthearted direction. For the next four weeks, I’ll be trying to learn as many skills, big and small, as I can.