Why Therapy Might Not Be Right for You

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Honestly, at this point, everybody on IG, BlueSky, and their mamas swear by therapy these days. “Go talk to somebody.” “You need to heal.” And sure, therapy is powerful—it can change lives. But let’s be real: it’s not for everybody, at least, not all the time. So, before you book that first session, let’s talk about why therapy might not be what you need right now.

You Ain’t Ready to Be Real

Therapy only works if you’re willing to tell the truth. About your pain. Your habits. Your role in the mess you’re trying to clean up. If you aren’t ready to be honest—not just with a therapist, but with yourself—then all you’re doing is paying somebody to listen to your excuses. And that’s a waste of everybody’s time.

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You’re Looking for a Quick Fix

If you think one session's gonna fix everything, you're already setting yourself up for disappointment. Therapy is work. It’s unlearning, unpacking, and sitting with stuff you’d rather avoid. It takes time. If you don’t have the patience to let the process do what it does, you might not be in the right headspace for it just yet.

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You Don’t Trust the Process

There's nothing worse than paying for therapy while secretly thinking it’s nonsense. If you side-eye everything the therapist says, refuse to try new coping tools, or dismiss the therapist’s thoughts before you even give a chance for the process to work, then why are you there? Therapy is not magic. You have to believe at least a little bit that change is possible for you for therapy to work.

You Want Somebody to “Fix” You

First and foremost, you are not broken. A therapist isn’t a handyman. They support you through processing your feelings and support you in taking responsibility for your healing.

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You Ain’t Found the Right Therapist Yet

Let’s be real—not all therapists are good therapists. And not all of them will vibe with you. If you sat through a few sessions and left feeling unheard, dismissed, or misunderstood, you might not need to quit therapy—you might just need a different therapist. Finding the right one is like dating; it takes time, but when you find the right match, it makes all the difference.

So, What Now?

If therapy isn’t for you right now, that’s okay. Healing comes in many forms. Maybe what you need is rest. Or community. Or journaling. Or a gym membership. Or just more time to process life on your own. Therapy will always be there when you’re truly ready for it. Until then, take care of yourself in ways that make sense for you, because your healing is yours to own.