"Oh no…am I really doing this?!"

So you’ve wrestled with the thoughts and you’ve questioned whether you could do it. Questions swirl in your mind like - "Is this the right decision?" and "What would others even say?" Well, rest assured one of the hardest but most valuable things one could do for themselves is seeking professional help. Being human is hard. Growing is hard. Change is hard. Whether it’s been pressure from your family to keep family business within the family or a lack of self esteem that’s caused you to question your own feelings. It is without a doubt that at some point the weight of it all can become too much. Deciding to seek help is a hard thing to do, there’s no denying that. However, taking the first step to reach out to a therapist is your first win in lightening the load. 

Your first session may or may not be the easiest one to get through. You'll be getting to know your therapist, getting comfortable with speaking about yourself, and perhaps for the first time owning your feelings and having them validated. Expect your therapist to ask a lot of questions, after all they are trying to get an idea of all the history you’ve lived, all of them…good and bad. While it may be uncomfortable at first, you’ll find that sometimes just speaking the words alone can be freeing. Depending on your therapist’s style, he or she will ask the questions in different ways. No matter how weird it may seem, remember your therapist is there to meet you where you are. There’s no judgment and no shame. Only the opportunity to rid yourself of the burden and any shame you've carried thus far.