What Makes Personal Therapy Different from Just Talking
Talking about mental health has become more common, but for many, the idea of therapy still feels distant. Some people grow up in homes where emotions are not spoken about. Others learn to keep things inside, even when they feel overwhelmed.
In these situations, personal therapy can offer a place to feel heard and supported. It can help someone understand their feelings, not just push them aside. Still, the first step often feels hard, especially when therapy isn’t something you’ve seen or known.
Azi Mohammadian, M.A., RCC, the founder & director of clinical services at Azi Counselling & Associates knows this feeling well. She is a registered clinical counselor and supervisor in her therapy practice. She grew up in Iran, where mental health was rarely discussed. As a teenager, she faced a lot of her own family’s silence, emotional confusion, and relationship struggles.
A single therapy session in secret helped her see herself more clearly. That moment stayed with her and later shaped her work. Today, she combines talk therapy with body-based healing to support others with care and understanding.
In this article, we’ll learn how Azzi’s personal therapy journey began. We’ll see how it shaped her growth and her work. We’ll also explore how therapy helps both personal healing and professional care, step by step, with honesty and heart.
How Emotional Struggles Led Azzi Mohammadian to Personal Therapy
As a teenager in Iran, Azzi Mohammadian dealt with emotions that felt too big to manage. She lived with her mother, who struggled with her mental health and didn’t talk about her feelings. The house felt quiet but heavy. At the same time, she was in a relationship that often left her unsure and upset.
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Emotional Highs and Lows in Teenage Relationships
At 16, she was dating the boy who would later become her husband. The relationship felt like a rollercoaster.
- She felt happy when he showed care but anxious when he pulled away.
- She often wondered if he still loved her.
- She said things like “Let’s break up” to get his attention.
- The pattern kept repeating and left her drained.
Her friends listened but couldn’t help. Her mother didn’t talk about emotions, so she felt alone.
First Steps Toward Personal Therapy
One friend noticed her struggle and suggested therapy. It wasn’t common or affordable, but Azzi saved money and took a bus to see a psychologist. Her mother didn’t know. She told her she was going to English class.
In one session, the psychologist helped her see something clearly: she was looking for love in her boyfriend to fill the emptiness her father left when he left the family. That moment stuck with her.
One Session That Changed Everything
She couldn’t afford to go back, but that one session started a change. She began thinking deeply and writing in her journal. Things didn’t change right away, but the seed was there. Years later, that early moment would guide her toward healing and, eventually, a career in helping others do the same.
How Personal Therapy Can Strengthen Professional Growth
Therapy during tough times can do more than offer support. It can also shape personal growth and future work. When emotions feel too heavy to handle alone, therapy gives a place to release them.
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Starting With the Basics
In the beginning, therapy may not feel clear or organized. Often, the focus is simple:
- Let the feelings out.
- Say what’s hard to say elsewhere.
- Cry, if needed, without shame.
This emotional release helps calm the body and clears space to think more clearly.
Small Steps Still Matter
Even without big advice or deep insights in every session, showing up makes a difference. It creates routine and builds trust. Over time, this can lead to a better understanding of past pain and patterns.
Learning and Healing Together
Doing personal therapy while training as a therapist can bring both closer. Reading about trauma or emotions while facing them in real life helps make sense of it all. This experience adds depth and helps build stronger empathy for others.
Knowing When to Pause or Set Limits
Therapy also teaches when to pull back. Some work may feel too close to home, especially during healing. For example:
- Avoiding couples’ sessions after a breakup.
- Saying no to work that feels too personal.
This helps protect emotional energy and ensures quality support for clients.
Personal Therapy Supports Both Sides
Therapy doesn’t just help with the past. It prepares someone to sit with others in their pain. It builds patience, trust, and the strength to be present. Personal healing and professional growth often move together, one step at a time.
What Should You Ask Before Choosing Personal Therapy
Finding the right therapist starts with asking the right questions. Therapy should feel safe, steady, and supportive. It’s okay to be curious and clear about what you need before you begin.
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Ask If They Have a supervisor
Every therapist should work with a supervisor. This is someone they meet with to review their cases and reflect on their work. Even skilled therapists need support to stay grounded and effective.
A therapist can miss things or bring their issues into the room without supervision. You can ask directly, “Do you currently have a supervisor?” It’s a fair and important question.
Ask If They’ve Done Their Therapy
Therapists also need to do their emotional work. Supporting others through hard moments can stir up their history. Therapy helps them stay aware, calm, and focused. You can ask:
- “Have you done your therapy work?”
This shows if they’ve looked at their patterns. - “Do you feel comfortable supporting clients through issues like mine?”
This helps you understand if they’re the right fit for you.
You Deserve to Feel Safe and Heard
You don’t have to settle. If a therapist feels distant or dismissive, moving on is okay. Not every fit is the right one, and that’s normal.
You have the right to ask questions and take your time. Your comfort and safety matter more than anything. A good therapist won’t take offence. They’ll welcome your honesty and support your choice.
And if it doesn’t feel right, you can say no. That’s not failure, it’s self-respect. Healing starts when you feel seen, heard, and safe with the person sitting across from you.
How to Know If Personal Therapy Is Working for You
Therapy doesn’t always give quick answers. Sometimes, you feel worse before you feel better. That’s not failure, and it’s part of the work. Growth often comes from facing what’s been hidden for a long time.
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Look for These Signs Over Time
- You feel safe speaking honestly, even about hard things.
- You understand your feelings more clearly than before.
- You react calmer in situations that used to upset you.
- You say “no” more often when something feels wrong.
- You start to listen to what you truly need.
These are quiet changes, but they matter.
Personal Therapy Doesn’t Always Feel Good
Not every session ends with relief. Some leave you feeling heavy or tired. That doesn’t mean therapy isn’t working. It means your emotions are moving, and that takes energy. Feeling low sometimes is a sign that something is shifting inside.
Progress Looks Different for Everyone
Healing doesn’t follow one path. For some, it means speaking up more. For others, it’s letting their guard down. Some cry for the first time in years. Others finally sit in silence and feel okay. Each step, no matter how small, is still progress.
Trust Your Gut
Therapy isn’t meant to fix you. It helps you know yourself better. If weeks go by and nothing feels useful, speak up. Share what feels off. A good therapist won’t take it personally.
They’ll work with you to find what fits better. What matters most is feeling safe, heard, and understood. When those things begin to happen, healing is already in motion.
Conclusion
Personal therapy can be life-changing, not because it fixes everything but because it helps you face what’s real. It gives space to feel, reflect, and slowly understand your story. Some days feel hard.
Others bring relief. But with time, patterns become clearer, and reactions start to shift. You may set better boundaries or speak more gently to yourself. These small steps matter. They show something inside is healing.
Moreover, asking the right questions before therapy helps you feel safe and supported. A therapist’s growth and training affect how well they can help.
That’s why asking about their experience and support system is okay. It’s also okay to change direction if something doesn’t feel right.
Therapy doesn’t have to look perfect to work. Some sessions feel heavy. Others feel light. What matters most is that you keep showing up. That’s how change happens.
In the end, personal therapy gives you more than tools. It helps you live with more awareness and choice. Healing takes time but begins when you feel heard, safe, and ready to know yourself better.
FAQs
Can I start personal therapy even if I don’t feel “sick enough”?
Yes, you don’t need a crisis to begin. Personal therapy can support growth, not just fix problems.
Is personal therapy useful if I already talk to friends and family?
Yes, therapy gives you a space without judgment or advice. It helps you focus only on your own needs.
How often should I go to personal therapy?
Most people start with weekly sessions. You can adjust later based on what works for you.
What if I feel worse after starting personal therapy?
That can happen at first. Facing old feelings can feel heavy, but it’s often part of real progress.
Can personal therapy help with work stress?
Yes, therapy helps you manage stress, build boundaries, and understand what truly affects you.
