Starting therapy or truly opening up during it isn’t always easy. Imagine standing in front of a huge mountain. Your thoughts are jumbled, your emotions are heavy, and the summit seems unreachable. Often, the decision to start online therapy feels exactly like that. The biggest obstacle, however, isn’t the journey, but the first step: how will you manage to speak openly about what’s troubling you?
Why are we afraid to open up?
The first session, or even the first few months of therapy, may be accompanied by an inner resistance. This is what we often call “defense mechanisms.” It’s perfectly normal to feel that:
- 🧩You have to have everything in order: There’s a misconception that the psychologist expects to hear a structured narrative. In psychotherapy, there’s no need for order, the “chaos” of your thoughts serves as a starting point.
- 🤝You will be judged for your choices: The fear of judgment is deeply ingrained, but the therapeutic relationship is based entirely on acceptance.
- 🤐Some things “aren’t said”: There are thoughts that make us feel ashamed or guilty. The psychologist is there to help you process them, not to judge you.
- 🥀Your vulnerability is a strength: Many of us have learned to be “tough,” but true strength lies in honesty.
There are no “wrong” feelings, “bad” thoughts, or “shameful” experiences. Online therapy is not a place of perfection; it is a place of truth.
You don’t have to say everything in the first session. Share what you’re feeling right now and see how relieving it is to be heard by someone who truly understands.
Why are there some things we don’t even tell our closest friends?
Why is it easier to talk to a myTherapist professional than to a friend? The answer lies in the therapeutic alliance:
- 🔒Professional Confidentiality: Everything you share is covered by strict medical confidentiality. This creates a space where your words will never be used against you.
- ⚖️Objective Perspective:Unlike our loved ones, the psychologist has no personal stake in your life. This allows them to remain your mirror, without adding their own biases.
- 🧠Expert Knowledge: What may seem “unthinkable” or “strange” to you is, to a mental health professional, a human symptom that requires understanding and specialized support.
There are no “wrong” feelings, “bad” thoughts, or “shameful” experiences. Therapy is not a place of perfection, it is a place of truth.
Practical Tips: How to to start therapy when you “Don’t Know Where to Start”
The phrase “I don’t know where to start” is one of the most common in therapy.
And it’s perfectly acceptable. If you feel stuck, try these strategies before or during your session on myTherapist:
- 🏷️ The “Headline” Technique: If a story is too painful, just give it a title. “I want to talk about my relationship with my father at some point, but not today.” This sets the stage without putting pressure on you.
- 📝 Write down your thoughts: Before logging into the platform, jot down a few notes. They can be words, images, or even a dream you had.
- ⏱️ Talk about the “here and now”: If you feel uncomfortable in that moment, just say so! “I can feel my heart racing now that I see you.” This phrase is already therapeutic. It gives the psychologist the starting point they need.
- 🗣️Use metaphors: If you can’t find the right words to name a feeling, describe it as an image. "I feel like I'm drowning in a spoonful of water" or "I feel like I'm trapped in a glass box."
There’s no right way to talk in therapy. There’s only your way. The psychologist simply expects honesty from you.
Why is it easier to “break the ice” in online therapy?
Technology in the service of mental health has changed the game. Many of our users report that speaking openly is much easier through myTherapist for the following reasons:
- 🏠The safety of your own space: Being on your couch drastically reduces anxiety levels. When your body feels safe, conversation flows more naturally and spontaneously.
- 🧘The absence of “awkward waiting”: There’s no waiting in an office with strangers, which is something that often increases internal tension before the session. Instead, you connect immediately from the calm of your own room, conserving your mental energy for the therapy.
- 🔗Continuity and consistency: Η ευκολία πρόσβασης σημαίνει ότι δεν θα χάσεις συνεδρίες λόγω μετακίνησης ή υποχρεώσεων, χτίζοντας έτσι ειλικρίνεια στη θεραπευτική σχέση και εμπιστοσύνη με τον θεραπευτή σου.
- 🤫 Complete discretion: You don’t have to worry about running into someone you know when entering or leaving an office. Your session on myTherapist is a private moment that belongs exclusively to you.
Start where you are. Every little word you share brings you closer to the peace and understanding you’re looking for.
Does getting started online therapy sometimes feel difficult? Like you have to climb a “mountain”? 🏔️
It’s true. For many people, the idea of therapy feels like a mountain. Big, steep, unknown. You might be thinking: “Is it worth it?”, “Can I handle it?”, “Will I ever get better?”. At myTherapist, we’re here to show you that you don’t have to run up the mountain.
The truth is, you don’t climb a mountain in one step.
You climb it with small, steady steps. And never alone.
How we can help you:
- The perfect match for you: Through our short questionnaire, we connect you with the right therapist for you who can support you with the issues that concern you.
- Affordable for everyone: Psychotherapy shouldn’t be a luxury. With myTherapist, you have access to certified psychologists at a cost that allows you to commit to the process.
- Support from anywhere: Life moves fast, and your therapy adapts to it. Whether you’re at home or traveling, your psychologist is just a click away.
Speaking openly isn’t something that happens magically from the first session. It’s a skill that’s built over time. Every time you share something small, you get more comfortable sharing something bigger.
Bibliography
Bordin, E. S. (1979). The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance.
Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 16(3), 252–260.Horvath, A. O., & Greenberg, L. S. (1989). Development and validation of the Working Alliance Inventory.
Journal of Counseling Psychology, 36(2), 223–233.
