Adults (18+)
Mental health is complex, and it would be a lot easier if we were like cars. Busted radiator, no problem, tink tink tink, and back on the road. Unfortunately, we don't work that way, and be weary of those who say they have a simple answer or your particular Allen wrench. Maybe at this point you have even been down the psychiatry path but found no relief. The self-help books, the diet, the exercise, yoga, hot yoga, working more, working less, and the host of other well-intended avenues have been exhausted, and here you are.
I have found that it usually takes a series of these attempts before we entertain the scary idea of seeing a "shrink." However, it just may be that you are in the right place. Therapy is not a magical cure, but it is the best path I know to heal, grow, gain insight, and feel better. In the process of therapy, you will likely make sense of your past and begin to understand how it affects your present. Many find greater awareness of themselves, and therefore are better able to navigate relationships and challenges in their lives. I know – I have been there. Therapy is more than a chat, checklist review, self-improvement project, or the "solving" of you as a crossword puzzle. Therapy is a relationship between two people devoted to facing the deepest truths of our lives so we can be healed. Making that first appointment can be difficult and may even provoke anxiety, but I know of no better or more worthy investment than psychotherapy.