I've been fighting off the thought that I could benefit from speaking to a therapist for so long. "They won't understand" was one excuse. "They can't help me," another. Those were just deflecting comments to hide what was really going on though. I realized that I was afraid. If I admitted that I needed a therapist, people might think that I'm crazy or broken. People wouldn't trust me any more. It would mean that I'm weak. But it's not like that.
I'm starting to understand that seeing a therapist is like fine tuning. It's turning that pretty stone into a dazzling diamond. Everyone can use a little tweaking from time to time, a little buffing up. Everyone has the ability to shine a little brighter. I realized recently that I've done a HELL of a lot of work on my own, which I'm very proud of, but I'm at a point in my growth and healing where I could benefit from talking to someone. I've seen therapists help so many other people in my life. What could they do for me?
Kiata over on Fetlife wrote this and I thought it was awesome so I wanted to keep it here where I wouldn't lose it.....
No, seriously.
While I think society as a whole has gotten better educated and less judgemental regarding mental health issues, there is still a stigma attached to seeking professional help.
"Er, nothing wrong with that," was my new primary care physician's reaction to me mentioning I was seeing a psychologist, said in a tone that conveyed he believed quite the opposite. And often times, you hear people tell someone else, "You need therapy," with the clear subtext of their words being "because you're batshit crazy."
My perspective? We all have our issues and traumas. You might benefit from hearing a professional viewpoint and finding an objective, caring listener. There's no shame in seeking help. Successful therapy requires hard work, and it is not a miracle cure for all that ails you, but it can really, really help. It helped me.
I don't want to get too far into my personal issues, but far from being a "punishment," therapy for me has been a safe, sacred place. I can cry as much as I want and say all the selfish, socially unacceptable things that might damage my personal relationships if I said them to the people involved. I've healed from so much trauma and learned so much about communication and how to do it effectively. And I've learned to be kind and understanding with myself, which has helped me be more kind and understanding with other people. So, if I suggest, "You should consider therapy," it's because I want all of those good things for you, too.
Again, not a miracle cure. And I understand that it's not for everybody. So your mileage may vary. But, if you have decided to give therapy a try, there's a few things you should know.
There are different schools of therapy. For the record, the whole Freudian, lying on the couch free association type of therapy is so last century. Hardly anyone does this anymore, although there is a modern version known as the psychodynamic approach. Other popular schools of psychology include CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy - not ballbusting), Gestalt therapy, humanistic-existential approach, and family systems model. It pays to do some research and figure out which one might work best for you.
Find a therapist you like and respect. Honestly I think this is more important than what school of thought they ascribe to. The relationship you have with him or her really matters. There are quacks and idiots in every profession, and this can be particularly damaging when you're entrusting someone with your psychological vulnerabilities. It's ok to ask a potential therapist questions. In fact, you should. It's ok to decide it's not working out and try someone new instead.Caveat: That last part can be tricky, because it's sometimes easier to blame the therapist than admit you're feeling scared or vulnerable and therefore want to run. Be honest with yourself about what's going on.
There are lots of kink-friendly therapists out there. The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom has a list of them here. Many therapists who aren't on that list are still open-minded and empathetic to WIITWD. I would not waste my time with anyone who is not.
Be aware that it might get worse before it gets better. However poor your current psychological defenses may be, they're still defenses. Strip those away and you're going to be vulnerable and all the stuff you haven't dealt with will come flooding in. It's a lot easier to get through the initial rough period if you expect it, and know that it will get better if you keep at it.
My final thought, before I climb off my soapbox and go to bed, is that success at "becoming better" isn't always linear. We like to think we're climbing a mountain, with nowhere to go but up, but in my experience that's not so. We're human and fallible and always will be. We stumble, we backslide, we lose our way. If we're smart we keep trying anyway. Effort counts. I used to tell myself, over and over again, a quote from one of my favorite books, If Rock and Roll Were a Machine, by Terry Davis. Everything changes...If I changed once for the worse, I can change again for the better. I can be somebody different from who I am now.
I wish you well.