This is the first choice. The first step in trusting and accepting yourself is finding the courage to decide how you feel you can best help yourself. Inappropriate therapy can have overtones of "curing" rather than "teaching". In the pursuit of self-esteem, it is necessary to emphasise the idea of self-development rather than "treatment". There is no suggestion of dependency, or of a higher being stretching down a hand to help a lower.

There are many kinds of therapists using many different approaches, from purely rational to purely intuitive, and many choosing from an eclectic array of techniques to suit each individual client.

A good therapist will demonstrate unconditional faith in your ability to take the first step on the arduous path to self-acceptance. It is often most encouraging to realise that developmental therapists do not consider their clients disturbed or inadequate, but admit they work with ordinary neurotic human beings like themselves.

Some therapists are eminently well-equipped to help you to look logically at your options and make reasoned choices. Some can help you to accept the wonder of your feelings, your unconscious processes, the marvellous creative, spiritual and intuitive faculties at your disposal.

You need both. Logic without feeling is mechanical. Emotion without reason is psychotic. Maturity is balance. True sanity is self-acceptance. True self-esteem liberates our psyche to choose freely between all the possibilities of the fantastic, incredible, wonderful, unique, utterly amazing individuals we all are.

Therapist and client learn much from each other. They make unique journeys of discovery together. They are privileged to look into each other’s inner worlds. They are both vulnerable human beings, capable of feeling pain and joy. Many therapists work first by persuading clients that it is SAFE for them to feel, and then by demonstrating that it can be both effective and fulfilling to be in touch with their emotions. Finally, clients discover for themselves that feelings can be FUN.

...