[stopdog]

Why did you hire a therapist? The poll should allow multiple choices. ( Also note - this is not all that serious nor will any response go on your permanent record. If you don't find a response you like - it is possible to simply pick other or explain in the comments)

[atisketatasket]

Other. 2ex browbeat me into it because I was so flawed.

The therapist (No. 1) lasted longer in my life than he did from that point on.

[WarmFuzzySocks]

Other. Similar to @@ except I was the one who suggested it, which meant I was the one with the problem. Obviously.
Still seeing that therapist.

[Lostislost]

Other, because I knew I was almost too far gone and if I didn't do it on that leap year then I would die for sure.

[chihirochild]

I had (and still have) a serious mental issue.

Possible trigger:

(In med school, I wanted to kill myself for the first time in my life and thought, “maybe a therapist could help with this?”)

It’s difficult some days to know how much therapy has helped vs hurt regarding this issue.

[Mountaindewed]

My Jr. high strongly suggested it.

[susannahsays]

Lol at me being the only one so far to say (admit?) I want support. Also checked for serious mental health issue, for help making a change, and I don't know. Changes from day to day.

[precaryous]

Began therapy this time to see if she could help undo any of negligence done by previous therapists.

Use therapy to help me understand, “What the hell just happened to me!?”

Also use her as support as I go through the life changes in this stage of my life.

[RoxanneToto]

Haven’t yet, but it will be to help make changes in my life (have been to therapists before, but in the past was for more nebulous reasons and not technically for “me” - aka other people wondering why I didn’t have friends made me feel something was wrong with me, but at that point in my life, being surrounded by toxicity, I probably was better off by myself anyway).
Moral of the story - don’t go to therapy based on other people’s judgemental opinions of you.

[LostOnTheTrail]

To help me recover from prolonged emotional abuse by people I considered friends. Once I realised what had actually taken place, versus what I thought had taken place, I really needed help to understand and unwind the impact.

The first therapist I spoke to about the situation had absolutely no idea what I was talking about, and likened it to something that it wasn't. My current therapist is more adept, and most importantly more committed to supporting me.

[Merope]

I wanted to buy myself a father figure/someone to obsess over so that I may be distracted from the real issues in my life.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Originally, my jr. high counselor suggested it. Then my h.s. counselor suggested it. Then when my mom kicked me out, I was able to get a therapist through the county. My next T I chose to see because I had a breakdown and couldn't make it on my own anymore. Now I'm in therapy for the support, process my issues, and learn to cope on my own.

[ArtieTheSequal]

Originally I wanted help with clinical depression, my pdoc had suggested talk therapy in conjunction with meds. it took me a long time to finally start. basically, because I just wanted to feel better.

[stopdog]

I hired the woman to find out if talking helped. It did not.
The role the woman played was like she was a charity case - I supported her when I handed her money and she did nothing.

[SlumberKitty]

I put for help navigating a serious mental health issue. The first time I had therapy I was young, still a teenager. I just wanted to die and I knew I needed help. Former T (second T) was referred to me by a social worker in my Church because I was having obvious problems. Stayed with that T ten years until she got MS and had to quit. Trial T I saw 4 times, figured out she was bat crap crazy and got out of there. Regular T I went to for help with schizoaffective disorder and some other stuff. Pastor T I went to because I was so suicidal I figured I might as well try it, that it could only get worse or better. Stopped seeing Pastor T because he pushed me to be more social than I am comfortable with. Still see Regular T but am thinking about quitting maybe in the early 2021. I seem to not be having as much crisis anymore and I'm not sure how much she is helping. Might as well save myself $30 fortnightly.

[Lemoncake]

Originally Posted by chihirochild

I had (and still have) a serious mental issue.

Possible trigger:

(In med school, I wanted to kill myself for the first time in my life and thought, “maybe a therapist could help with this?”)

It’s difficult some days to know how much therapy has helped vs hurt regarding this issue.

Possible trigger:

Honestly it was exactly the same for me. I even took a year off school between second and third year. I'd reached this point for the first time that I was done. I messaged R three months after that and 14 days before christmas. I tried to do it on my own and it had only lead up to that point- so why not see if someone could help me.

[LonesomeTonight]

The most recent stretch, starting not long after my daughter was born, for severe postpartum anxiety. But I'd also struggled with anxiety and depression (plus OCD) throughout my life (and had shorter stints of therapy in the past, like going for a year, then not for a few years, etc.). My current T I originally started seeing to help me work through transference for ex-MC, but also to help with the anxiety and depression issues.

[daisydid]

Possible trigger:

When I was a teenager, I was required to start seeing a therapist because of a suicide attempt.

As an adult, I wanted to see a therapist to work on some of the issues I had around my childhood. It over time turned to me working on a serious mental illness.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

I was struggling with some serious issues (mostly SH and being suicidal). My friends weren't able to put up with me anymore and recommended I go see a therapist, so I decided to give that a go.