ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What is therapy really like once you step inside the room? Does it look like the versions we see on television and in films, or is the reality something quite different?
In this episode of Let's Open Up: About Therapy, Dr Ruth Schumacher continues her conversation with Misha as she reflects on her expectations of therapy before she started and how those expectations compared to her real experience.
Misha shares how she initially imagined therapy as a detached conversation with a therapist sitting behind a desk. Instead, she discovered a collaborative process that encouraged self-reflection, practical learning, and personal growth. She talks openly about completing exercises between sessions, working through emotions that surfaced during therapy, and the importance of giving herself time to process what she was learning.
Together, Ruth and Misha explore:
- What Misha expected therapy to be like before starting
- How her actual experience challenged common misconceptions about therapy
- The role of homework and practising skills between sessions
- Working at a pace that felt supportive and manageable
- Why personal reflection and self-care were important during therapy
- The idea of "learning fast but processing slowly"
- Making sense of emotions, thoughts and long-standing patterns
This honest conversation offers valuable insight into the therapeutic process and highlights that therapy is often about more than what happens during a session. Real change can continue to develop between appointments as new ideas, emotions and perspectives begin to take shape.
Please note: Misha's experience is unique to her. NHS Talking Therapies offers a range of evidence-based therapies, and each person's treatment journey will be tailored to their individual needs.
Find out more about Hertfordshire and Mid Essex Talking Therapies and refer yourself via our website: www.hpft-talkingtherapies.nhs.uk
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Coming up next: Hear from Tap, a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner working within NHS Hertfordshire and Mid Essex Talking Therapies as we continue to explore what therapy is really like, how it works, and what you can expect when reaching out for support.
