“I Don’t Need Therapy” - And What I’d Say Back
If you've been thinking about reaching out for support - but keep talking yourself out of it - this post is for you.
As a therapist specializing in body image, eating disorders, and postpartum wellness, I hear the same hesitations over and over. And I get it. Starting therapy is a big step, and our brains are really good at coming up with reasons to wait.
But I want to gently push back on a few of the most common ones - because you might be more ready than you think.
“I don't even know what I'd talk about.”
WHAT I'D SAY BACK
Most people who come to me feel exactly this way at first. You don't have to have it figured out before you start. That's kind of the whole point of being there. A good therapist will help you find the thread - you just have to show up.
“I don't have an eating disorder. It's not that serious.”
WHAT I'D SAY BACK
You don't need a diagnosis to deserve support. If you're spending a significant part of your day thinking about food, your body, or feeling guilty after you eat - that's worth talking about. The threshold for "serious enough" is much lower than most people think.
“I should just be able to love my body by now.”
WHAT I'D SAY BACK
You have been swimming against a current of diet culture your entire life. The fact that it's hard isn't a personal failure - it's an understandable response to an incredibly difficult environment. Struggling with body image doesn't mean something is wrong with you. It means you've absorbed a lot of messaging that was never meant to help you.
“I just had a baby - this is all normal, right?”
WHAT I'D SAY BACK
Some adjustment is normal. But feeling completely disconnected from your body, losing your sense of self in motherhood, or not recognizing who you are anymore - we don't have to just accept that as part of the deal. Postpartum support can help you come back to yourself.
“I don't want to be judged.”
WHAT I'D SAY BACK
A good therapist isn't there to evaluate you. There's no right way to show up. You can be a mess. You can not know what to say. You can change your mind about things you've believed for years - honestly, that's kind of the goal. And if you ever do feel judged by a therapist? Find a new one.
If you've been thinking about reaching out for a while but keep talking yourself out of it - that's really common. And it doesn't mean you're not ready.
You Don't Have to Have It All Together to Start
Therapy isn't a reward for people who've already figured things out. It's a space to start figuring them out - with someone in your corner who actually understands what you're going through.
If you're a woman in Washington state struggling with your relationship with food, your body, or the identity shift that comes with becoming a mother, I'd love to connect. You don't have to be in crisis. You just have to be a little bit curious about what life could feel like on the other side.
That's enough to start.
Hi, I'm Andrea.
I'm a licensed therapist in Washington state specializing in body image, eating disorders, and supporting women through pregnancy and postpartum. I use EMDR and IFS approaches to help you heal your relationship with your body - and yourself.
Click here to work with me.
