Therapy Isn’t Linear: What to Expect on the Journey

Let’s clear something up right now…

Therapy isn’t a straight line.
It’s not a neat timeline where you come in, say a few things, feel better, and move on. It’s more like a winding path. Some days you’ll feel hopeful. Some days you might feel heavy. Some days you’ll wonder if anything is changing at all.

That doesn’t mean it’s not working. That means you’re doing the work.

Healing Can Feel Messy

You might feel worse before you feel better. Not because therapy is hurting you, but because you’re finally letting yourself feel what you’ve been carrying for a long time. That takes courage. You’re turning toward things you used to push away. And that’s part of the process.

Growth Is Not Always Obvious

Some weeks you’ll leave a session feeling clear and grounded. Other weeks you might feel raw or even irritated. That’s normal. Sometimes the shifts are quiet. Sometimes they show up in the way you respond to a situation that used to trigger you. You may not always notice the changes right away, but they’re happening.

You Don’t Have to Get It Perfect

There’s no gold star for doing therapy the “right” way. You can show up tired. You can show up confused. You can show up with nothing to say and we’ll still find something meaningful in the silence. The work is in the showing up.

Stick With It

If you’re feeling uncertain about whether it’s helping, bring that into the session. That’s part of the conversation. You’re allowed to question the process. You’re allowed to be honest about where you’re at. I’d rather you bring the doubt than sit with it alone.

Therapy isn’t about being fixed. It’s about being supported. And sometimes support looks like holding space while things are still unfolding.