03/10/2026
Hey, Cougars! 🌸
Have you been considering trying out therapy, but are a little (or maybe even very) nervous about the thought? Maybe you wonder if it would even work, or if you’ll feel uncomfortable once you’re there.
Those are normal fears to have about therapy. If you find yourself nervous, but still think that you may want to try it in the future, here are some tips to help you out:
Assess if you may need therapy - While no one should be forced to go to therapy, you may benefit from trying it if your mental health has been impacting you to the point where you are finding it difficult to function in your daily life. Maybe school or work have become hard to focus on, or you find yourself isolating and/or frequently feeling anxious.
Recognize it will take time to find your flow - There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, and there may not be fast results right away. Therapy will require time and effort as you work through your emotions, challenges, and/or life changes. There are also different types of therapy you can try to find what works best for you at your current stage.
Don’t get discouraged if the right fit doesn’t come right away - It may take a little while to find the right therapist. Compatibility matters, as therapy is a partnership. If you find that your first therapist doesn’t have the right approach, doesn’t specialize in the kind of therapy you may need, or you just don’t quite mesh with their personality, it is ok to try different therapists until you find the right fit.
Think about your goals - It’s ok not to know for sure yet. Your therapist can help you figure this out. There isn’t a “right” reason to attend therapy, and people choose to for different reasons.
You do not have to be experiencing challenges to begin therapy - While we are used to hearing about what therapy can do for mental health struggles, you don’t necessarily have to be going through difficult emotions to still benefit from therapy. Therapy can help equip you with the tools to respond to future challenges in a healthy way, or improve your relationships.
View therapy as a process and an opportunity to learn communication and coping skills - Therapy can help you learn more about your past and present self, as well as ways to cope with stress, anxiety, or other challenges. It is also a place to strengthen communication skills, like learning how to be vulnerable, advocating for yourself, expressing complex or difficult emotions, or being honest with those close to you.
Remember it is not a lifelong commitment - You are not locked in to therapy after trying it, and can go as many times as you feel you need. The amount of therapy sessions varies by person, and each process is valid.
Remember, you are not obligated to go to therapy, even if others try to pressure you. You can still hear them out, but in the end, therapy should be your choice. Make sure that you feel ready if and when you decide to take the leap. 🙂
Sources:
Is therapy right for me? - Health & Wellness | Loma Linda University Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://lluh.org/patients-visitors/health-wellness/blog/therapy-right-me #:~:text=Reading%20up%20on%20types%20of,recommend%20someone%20better%20for%20you.
Cariss, J. (2025, August 1). 12 things to know when starting therapy. Self Space. Retrieved March 7, 2026, from https://theselfspace.com/12-things-to-know-when-starting-therapy/
IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
A circular chart with tips for trying out therapy for the first time, a graphic of someone talking to a therapist, and the SHCS logo on the top left corner.
