Before you begin therapy, you should be aware of the possible risks associated with counselling. Changes to our awareness, although positive in the long run, can be difficult to adjust to. Some of the insights can be quite different from what we are accustomed to, paying attention to our emotions can be painful, and addressing the challenges present in our lives can be unpleasant. As a result, you may experience uncomfortable emotions such as sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, helplessness, and shame, both in session and between sessions. Together, we will come up with self-soothing and coping strategies, as well as come to understand those emotions and their origins better. Additionally, as you change your perceptions and behaviours, others around you may respond differently than what you expect, often because they themselves are not willing to change the status quo.
I believe that you already have within you the solutions to your problems, and it is likely that learned patterns are keeping these solutions from your awareness. Counselling calls for a very active effort on your part, as you will need to work on changing these long-established patterns. While there are never any guarantees, therapy can lead to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, changes in your perspectives and decisions, significant reductions in feelings of distress, and improved self-esteem.
