I decided to write my blog today around inconsistency. Since starting out in private practice, as a Counsellor / Psychotherapist, I have had clients that will book to attend sessions, seeking help and support for their mental health. Now this can be for a host of reasons, such as work-related issues, anxiety, depression, not liking certain behaviour traits that they are noticing in themselves, in fact, anything that is interfering with their day-to-day life. Attending therapy sessions regularly, is key. I personally discuss this with my clients from the very first session, weekly, fortnightly or under certain circumstances, this can be monthly. Once you, the client, and I are happy with our agreement, then it is paramount to make yourself the priority. Yes of course life challenges can come along and interrupt the flow, we can’t help that. What does help, is making it priority to return to your therapy sessions, as soon as possible.
If we think back to something we have learnt, maybe in our youth. Learning to ride a bike, learning to swim, those maths tasks we may have had to do in school. We would have had to put in the effort to learn those skills, until we got to grips with it. Now it’s the same for therapy, commit to attending sessions regularly and you will see and feel positive changes taking place within yourself, life changing the majority of the time! Imagine being able to manage your anxiety until it no longer exists! When we leave too long a gap between sessions, it will feel as though you are starting from the beginning each time you return. The tools you learn in session, will not stick unless you are consistent in using them, but first we have to learn them, just like riding a bike, it’s difficult at first, a wobble here a wobble there, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes.
Make that commitment to take care of your mental health. You are the most important person in your world, take care of you and your world will change for the better.
