Thinking About Starting Therapy? Here’s What to Expect—and Why It Might Help
- willowtreehealingc
- May 13
- 3 min read
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or just plain tired—you're not alone. Many people think about therapy long before they ever reach out. You might be wondering:
“Do I really need therapy?”
“What would I even talk about?”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
These are all valid questions. And if you’re here reading this, it means some part of you is already thinking about change. That’s a powerful place to start.
What Therapy Is (and What It’s Not)
Therapy isn’t about being “broken” or needing to be fixed. It’s about getting support with the things you’ve been carrying alone. It’s a safe space to show up exactly as you are—whether you’re dealing with anxiety, burnout, relationship struggles, or just a general feeling of disconnection.
According to the American Psychological Association, therapy can help with a wide range of emotional challenges—including everyday stress and long-standing mental health concerns.
You don’t need a crisis to benefit from therapy. You just need a willingness to explore what’s going on beneath the surface.
Common Reasons People Start Therapy
As a therapist, I work with clients who are navigating:
Anxiety and overthinking
Life transitions and identity shifts
Emotional exhaustion and burnout
Parenting stress and postpartum changes
Difficulty setting boundaries or saying no
A general sense of “I don’t feel like myself”
Burnout and chronic stress, for example, are more than just feeling tired. They can impact your mood, focus, sleep, and relationships. The World Health Organization even classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon due to unmanaged stress.
What to Expect in a Therapy Session
If you’ve never been to therapy before, it’s normal to feel unsure. Here's what you can expect in my practice:
A grounded, compassionate space where there’s no pressure to perform
Real-life tools to help you feel more calm, confident, and connected
A collaborative approach—we go at your pace
Therapy is more than just talking about feelings. It’s about learning how to understand your patterns, tune into your needs, and build a more supportive relationship with yourself. If you’re curious, this guide from the NIMH offers a helpful overview of what therapy involves.
Online Therapy in Virginia—Accessible Support When You Need It
I offer online therapy for adults in Virginia, which means you can meet from wherever you are—whether that’s during your lunch break, in your parked car, or while the baby naps. Research shows that teletherapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for many issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related challenges.
Online therapy can be especially helpful for:
Working parents
Professionals with tight schedules
Individuals in rural areas or without easy access to therapy offices
Taking the First Step
Reaching out can be hard, especially if you’re used to managing things on your own. But therapy doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s simply a place to be honest, heard, and supported.
If you're looking for a therapist who’s down-to-earth, compassionate, and committed to helping you move forward—I’d love to talk.
Now accepting new clients for online therapy in Virginia. Book a free 15-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.
You deserve support that actually supports you. Let’s get started.
👉 Start therapy with me — online sessions available in Virginia
👉 Check out my Psychology Today profile
If you are looking for family counseling, Mary Willoughby Prentiss is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia who provides online therapy for Willow Tree Healing Center. She enjoys transforming the lives of women, college students, kids, tweens/teens, and families through providing communication strategies, coping skills that work, allowing a safe space to be heard, and actively working towards helping you with your challenges. She is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (ages 2-7) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, counsels substance abuse in teens and adults, and practices Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.
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