Everything I Learned After Going to Therapy
Self-Care Sunday With Gabby
Hi everyone. I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything here, I just graduated college and things were kinda crazy with school. I’m back now, super excited to write again and I want to share some of the things I learned after going to therapy.
I started going to therapy when I was 19 or 20 though I wasn’t going on a consistent basis. However, I would go visit the counseling center at my college, and would vent to them about how I was feeling. It wasn’t until recently that I found the right therapist. If you are interested in going to therapy, here are a few things to remember.
- It will take some time to find the therapist that is right for you.
- Don’t give up. I know it can be a little scary going to therapy the first couple of times, but it is important to keep trying. Often times people stop going to therapy because they haven’t found the right one.
You should never have to change who you are for anyone.
Gabby Mendonca
So, here are the things that I learned after going to therapy.
Learning how to say no:
At the beginning of college I said yes to everything. I said yes to going to events, I said yes to hanging out with people even though I was exhausted. It wasn’t until therapy and my own self reflection that I understood the importance of saying no. Once you have good friends and family that support you, they start to understand and respect your decisions.
Setting boundaries:
This is a big one and it goes hand in hand with saying no. Setting boundaries is so important for your mental health. It’s great to be there for your loved ones, but if you’ve had a stressful week at work or school, sometimes you just need some time for yourself. Again, this all goes back to always saying yes. I am trying not to be such a big people pleaser. It’s important that you set boundaries because you also need to take care of yourself.
Protecting my peace and energy:
This is a big one for me. After therapy and a lot of self discovery, I know how to protect my peace and energy. Not allowing people to destroy that is so so important.
Learning to love myself:
As a teenager I blamed my disability for everything. “Well Gabby, you are blind so those people don’t want to be friends with you.” I learned that it was never about my disability, I learned that it was about the people that I was friends with. I have some amazing friends who support me and accept me just as I am. You should never have to change who you are for anyone. I learned how to love and accept myself. And I’m really proud to say that I do love the person that I am, flaws and all.
Conclusion
I know that there is a huge stigma surrounding mental health, a lot of people that believe that you should only go to therapy if something is wrong. But I just want to challenge you all to at least go to a few therapy sessions. Let me know on social media what it’s like for you. And if you feel comfortable you can share the things that you have learned from therapy and self reflection.
Please remember to protect your peace and energy. Enjoy your #SelfCareSunday 🙂
Connecting With Gabby:
- Behind The Scenes YouTube Footage: Patreon
- Youtube: @GabriellaMendonca
- Instagram: @itss_g_
- Facebook: @gabbymendonca
- Twitter: @itss_g_
About The Author
Gabby is a recent college graduate. She studied communications in digital media. When she isn’t busy with school, Gabby enjoys filming videos for her YouTube. She is very passionate about the performing arts, music, and acting. Gabby is also very passionate about advocacy and inclusion.
Image Descriptions:
- The header is a woman sitting on a sofa during therapy with her head on her hand while a therapist is taking notes.
- Relaxed young woman listening to music or an audio book while sitting on the sofa at home.
- The author’s photo is an evening outdoor glamour shot of Gabby standing with her hand on her hip in a black gown. Her long dark loosely curled tresses are flowing over her right shoulder and down her back.