How do I know if I’m getting better in therapy?

Progress in mental health is an individual, holistic standard for everyone. Overall, if you feel like your day-to-day life is “easier,” and you feel less overwhelmed by tasks and other responsibilities, then it’s safe to say your treatment plan is working. 

What are the “signs” that therapy is working for me? 

This depends on what sort of mental health treatment you’re receiving. 

Talk therapy with a licensed mental health counselor or psychologist should offer new insight and strategies into your situation. Psychiatry with a psychiatrist can prescribe medication to reduce negative symptoms (ex. panic attacks) and find other solutions for physical symptoms. 

A proactive treatment plan might help you become better at: 

• Understanding who you are, on your own terms

• Separating your values from those around you

• Learning to set and communicate better boundaries

• Feeling able to minimize anxiety and other negative emotions

• Examining feelings of perfectionism and people-pleasing habits

Is my treatment supposed to make me feel uncomfortable? 

Recovery and treatment do not progress in a straight line—in fact, progress should include periods of discomfort. This is because you are dismantling old skills and ways of thinking so you can re-learn positive habits for your mental health. 

Over time, you might notice smaller day-to-day habits, such as: 

• Quicker recovery after a hard day

• Following through on commitments

• Asking for help, rather than hiding/withdrawing

• Finding more energy in the day

• Pausing before reacting emotionally

Recovery doesn’t need to be perfect, and tension in recovery is a normal sign of progress.