HONOR YOUR JOURNEY
BY SAMANTHA CAMERA
Seeking therapy doesn’t mean you are weak or flawed—it means you’re human. Life can be challenging, from relationships to jobs to finding value or even joy within a person’s life.
Unfortunately, the stigma around therapy can still make reaching out feel isolating or even shameful. However, seeking support is a courageous step toward living authentically and fully. It’s a powerful decision that can lead to significant personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself. Therapy is not just for people in crisis; it’s for anyone who wants to gain insight, learn strategies, and find a sense of peace, whether through addressing anxiety, depression, grief, or even something as practical as creating a sustainable routine.
For individuals of faith, therapy can be an opportunity to integrate spiritual beliefs into the healing process. This integration can provide comfort and guidance, connecting to something more significant as you navigate life’s challenges. Therapists can help you explore how faith informs your patterns, values, and choices, supporting you in aligning your spiritual life with your mental and emotional well-being.
Finding the Right Therapist
When considering starting therapy, these questions might serve as a helpful guide to finding a therapist:
• Do I prefer a therapist of a specific gender?
• Would I feel more comfortable with in-person or online sessions? If online, do I have a private, distraction-free space where I can focus?
• How often can I commit to therapy (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly)?
• Is it essential for my therapist to incorporate faith into our work?
• Will I use insurance, or will I pay out of pocket? If using insurance, how much does my insurance company cover? Call your insurance company and ask if they have any providers in your network that can cover therapy. If not using insurance, what is your budget for therapy?
When deciding to take steps to find a therapist, there can be a lot of avenues to go down; you can Google “psychotherapist near me” or “psychotherapist who works with _________ (add symptoms or things you are experiencing).
There are also many directories of therapists online, including Psychology Today, Open Path Collective, and TherapyDen. You can use the filters on these platforms to find a therapist who meets your needs.
Many therapists have 15-minute consultations where you can meet and chat with the therapist to know if you feel comfortable with that person. Ask yourself the following questions after the 15-minute consultation:
• Did I feel heard and understood?
• Was the therapist’s communication style a good fit for me?
• Do they understand or respect my faith?
Having these check-ins with yourself after the 15-minute consultations can save you time and money and help you reach the goals you want to achieve from therapy. Therapy is a vulnerable process, and a solid therapeutic relationship creates the foundation for meaningful progress.
What to Expect in Therapy
Your first session with a therapist is often called an intake session. During this meeting, the therapist will ask questions about your goals, background, and struggles. Topics might include your personal and family history, medical background, and reasons for seeking therapy now. You’ll also discuss confidentiality and the therapist’s responsibilities, including mandatory reporting laws.
After the first session, you might feel drained, exhausted, excited, relieved, or all the above. Just note that not all sessions will go like the initial session; after the initial session, therapy will focus on understanding more of the patterns and how they appear and digging deeper into the goals for treatment.
Many of us may have long-term behavioral patterns and other struggles, and it can take equally as long to make a change.
Sometimes, therapy can take a while (about 12 sessions) before the therapist can even start to use tools and techniques to help break up the patterns that appear. Therapy can help you learn about patterns and why they may appear, what they are doing, how those patterns have helped you get to where you are. During that time, patterns have formed. Like anyone in life, we are supposed to grow and change over time, and if we are feeling stuck or recognizing that the patterns are not helpful anymore, that could be a time to look for help/support within that stuckness. Other times, therapy can be a space to explore or develop new techniques to help you process emotions. A therapist can help you find what methods work best for you.
Faith and Therapy
For those who hold faith close to their hearts, therapy can be an opportunity to deepen their connection to their beliefs while addressing emotional and mental challenges. Faith can provide a grounding force, offering strength and hope in moments of struggle. Integrating faith into therapy allows you to explore questions like:
• How do my spiritual beliefs shape my response to challenges?
• Are there patterns in my life that conflict with my values or faith?
• How can I use prayer, meditation, or scripture as tools for healing?
A faith-integrated approach doesn’t mean your therapist imposes their own beliefs. Instead, it’s about weaving your values into the therapeutic process, allowing your spiritual life to support your mental and emotional growth.
The Value of Therapy
At its core, therapy is a space for growth, self-discovery, and healing. It’s a place to explore your identity, process emotions, and find new ways to thrive. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific challenge or looking to deepen your connection to your faith, therapy offers tools and insights to help you move forward.
Remember, seeking therapy isn’t about fixing something “wrong” with you—it’s about honoring your journey and giving yourself the space to grow. With time, patience, and the proper support, therapy can help you embrace your full potential and approach life’s challenges with strength and clarity.
Samantha Camera has a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Seattle University. She is a practicing marriage and family therapist in Washington State who works with teens, individuals, and premarital couples.
