Originally posted June 24, 2013.
Guest Post: Today I am pleased to have Leighann Adams of Multitasking Mumma guest posting here today. Leighann is a mom and a self-identified Postpartum Depression blogger. She says the Postpartum Depression blogging community helped her a whole lot when she needed information and support. She found blogging to be therapeutic for her; now she gives back to others via blogging and awareness campaigns.
Leighann’s post is about her inner process in her personal experience in therapy, from initial wariness to blossoming with the help of a therapeutic relationship. I love her inner process; her story really resonated with me so much that I just had to have her story here!
Because, as a therapist, I always wonder what people think about the therapeutic process and what they of me before they meet me. I’m so glad for the internet, as now people can view my websites to get a feel for who I am before calling. I know a lot of people are afraid to call me because they tell me that when they meet me. Many think I’m going to be a judgmental know-it-all. But that’s far from the truth of what therapy is.
I’ll let Leighann explain what being in therapy can be like. Her story is important to help remove stigma and misconceptions about therapy.
Please welcome Leighann to BirthTouch®.
Therapy, for myself, was something I had long associated with weakness and the inability to help myself. I cheered on others who sought counseling but didn’t see it fitting into my life, so I was determined that any meeting I had with a therapist would be short.
I advocated for therapy and counseling and firmly believed that others should discuss their feelings, fears, and sorted pasts with professionals, but when the idea was presented to me I froze. What would the therapist want to talk about? Would she want to change me? What kinds of things would I have to confront?
With my heels dug in I called to set up the appointment, at the convincing of my husband after he had watched my decline over several weeks; appointments with my psych weren’t working and my meds were just barely keeping me afloat.
Prior to our first meeting I painted a picture of a gloomy environment filled with forced confessions and tragedy where the tissue box would be my best friend and I would leave each session feeling hollow. I envisioned myself laying on a sofa and crying about problems I didn’t see solutions to, hearing her say things like, “how does that make you feel?” and “what do you think about that?”
Never had it occurred to me that I might benefit.
When I pulled up to her office I breathed in the fresh smell from the open water and took time to appreciate the lush surroundings. The setting wasn’t what I had expected. Her office sat amongst tall, beautiful boats and inside its intimate walls were the perfect colour of calm. Her shelves held interest and showed her personality, not something I had thought I would ever learn about.
I had imagined a cruel, closed off woman, content on keeping the focus on me, but was met with an open, inviting personality, who cared what I thought, and about my therapeutic goals.
She started out slowly, and didn’t overwhelm me; she reassured and coached me along each stage.
Could I be enjoying the process?
Therapy started to become refreshing; a healing, and I started looking forward to sessions. Someone was listening and genuinely interested in helping me reach my best self. She had my best interests in mind and I felt accountable.
The chip on my shoulder started to slide away with each visit and pieces of myself, my real self, could be seen.
Perhaps this therapy thing could work for me?
I might even recommend it to you.
If you’d like to reach out to Leighann, here are her social media outlets:
Twitter: @MultitaskMumma
About Me: Http://about.me/multitaskingmumma.com