How do you know when therapy is working? Generally, there are a few things to look out for:

1. You have a good therapeutic alliance (or connection) with your therapist. This is actually one of the most important aspects of therapy. Having a strong therapeutic alliance with your therapist tends to produce better outcomes.

2. You start to feel more in control, and, in turn, you feel better! The symptoms you had before starting therapy begin to feel more manageable. You feel like you have the tools and skills to keep those symptoms under control, rather than those symptoms controlling you.

3. Your day-to-day feels more enjoyable. You can appreciate the little things and find joy in your daily life again. You might see improvements in your relationships, more patience, increased self-esteem,  and an overall feeling of contentment.

Now, it’s important to remember that we all have ups and downs, and that progress is often not linear. You may feel like you’ve improved a lot and then a setback comes. That’s ok! That’s a normal part of the process. If at any time in your therapeutic journey, you feel like things aren’t improving or you’re feeling worse, be sure to talk to your therapist. They want what’s best for you, and are typically willing to change course if you feel like what you’re currently doing isn’t working. But if something doesn’t feel right, maybe it’s just not a good match and someone else may be better suited for you. At the end of the day, it’s your journey. Do what feels right for you.