It can be hard to admit to yourself let alone somebody else how long you’ve ignored the problem for which you’re seeking therapy. But also know that many individuals do not realize they have an issue that requires professional mental health treatment for many years – if not their entire lives. Every therapist is very familiar with that truth and will not judge you for delaying therapy: they’ll just be proud of you for finally showing up for yourself. It’s also very important to be honest about when exactly the problem began because there is likely valuable information in that fact – information for your therapist to assess. Whether or not you realize it, something happened at a given time in your life that started this. A good mental health professional can connect those dots.
When it comes to some of our deepest anxieties or even mental health issues, we often don't share those thoughts and experiences because we're ashamed and assume no one else feels the same way. The good news is that's simply not true.
Not all therapists are created equal, and you reserve the right to be critical of your therapist. After all, she’s critical of you, isn’t she? Here are signs that your therapist isn’t listening to you.