To witness someone who you care about suffering or struggling can be difficult. It can feel heartbreaking to know that that person could benefit from professional help and yet not see them take that step. Approaching a loved one with the, “Hey, I think you need to talk to someone.” can be a challenging task, but one that we think we can help you navigate.

Like any journey, the journey to mental health and wellness might include detours, starts and stops, long pauses, and unexpected factors at play. Choosing to return to therapy is BIG and your dedication to your mental health doesn’t go unnoticed. Whether you haven’t spoken to your therapist in months and are feeling anxious about making the call, you’ve “finished” therapy and are considering returning, or you ghosted your therapist and feel awkward about reaching out again, this is for you. Here are 5 tips for going BACK to therapy.

Therapy can be intimidating and the misconceptions about it can be a major a reason why. We all deserve to feel good. We deserve peace, joy, and the permission to be vulnerable. You have the power to work to heal, and therapy is a safe place to do it. Let’s put the myths to rest!

One of the barriers people often report keeps them from seeking help is the hesitation about the effectiveness of counseling. The truth is that counseling is a collaborative process. While it is crucial that you find the right professional for you — ideally a person with whom you can establish a strong therapeutic relationship — it is equally important that you understand what your responsibilities are in order to get the best of your counseling experience.