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Text: Therapy and You – Christine Deneweth
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Crass talking. She has short curly hair, glasses, and a green shirt.
Crass: Hi! My name is Crass and I happily go to therapy.
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Crass talking with her hand up.
Crass: Therapy is extremely beneficial, but finding the right therapist can be hard. It can be hard to find someone who you connect with – and it’s important to have that connection for the therapy to work.
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Crass talking.
Crass: You need to be able to feel comfortable talking to your therapist, and you need to feel safe.
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Crass talking with her hand up.
Crass: Don’t be scared to switch therapists if you don’t connect well with them. Your healing and comfort are important.
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Crass talking.
Crass: None of this is meant to bash therapists. This is simply a guide to making sure you are getting the most out of your therapy.
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Text: Therapists Should Listen, Not Direct the Conversation
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Crass talking.
Crass: There’s a difference between checking up on things and directing the conversation. Therapists should be willing to listen to what you need to talk about at the time instead of talking over you.
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Crass talking.
Crass: Your needs are valid and are worth being addressed. If you feel like what you need to say isn’t being heard, it may not be a good fit.
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Crass: Therapists Can Be Biased
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Crass talking.
Crass: Therapists are still people and everyone can be biased. It may not be harmful, but it can be in this situation. If a therapist holds a bias about a certain mental disorder, it can drastically effect how they treat you.
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Crass talking and smiling.
Crass: Having a therapist that specializes in your disorder is always a plus.
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Text: Watch Out for Gaslighting
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Text: Gaslighting is manipulating your thoughts into thinking you are wrong. An example would be the therapist blaming the client for not making progress instead of promoting self-exploration.
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Crass talking.
Crass: Gaslighting can be a form of abuse! Therapy should be a safe place that helps promote growth.
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Text: Initial Diagnoses Can Be Wrong
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Crass talking.
Crass: Even though it isn’t the therapist’s job to diagnose you, they can give you an idea of what you might have.
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Crass talking with her hand up.
Crass: But remember these aren’t your official diagnoses and it’s okay to question them.
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Text: Therapists Shouldn’t Just Diagnose
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Crass talking.
Crass: I’m lucky to have a therapist that helps me set goals and helps me grow. And when I don’t meet those goals, she helps me work through what I need help with.
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Crass talking.
Crass: Beware of therapists that only focus on diagnosing you, without helping you grow.
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Crass talking.
Crass: Therapy is amazing, and it has helped me become more stable. Make sure that your therapy sessions are positive and leave you feeling good when you leave.
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Crass talking.
Crass: You deserve to be heard! It’s okay if you need help to be the best you!
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Crass talking and smiling.
Crass: Healing takes time and the perfect fit.
