Welcome to "My Journey Within”. Firstly, we would like to commend you on having been brave and taking the initiative to make an appointment and for having shown up to your first therapy session, well done! Sometimes that can be the hardest step take. We would also like to emphasise that therapy is for you, no-one else, so there is no judgment or prescription here. However, we want you to get out of therapy what you are hoping for. If you are hoping for a supportive, kind and empathetic place, where you can mainly talk about your issues and difficulties, we will be happy to provide this for you. This is perfectly achievable without much work outside the therapy sessions and can be immensely helpful for some people.

If, however, you are hoping to make significant and permanent changes in your life - may it be regarding the way you think, how you manage and cope with your feelings, how you relate to other people and manage interpersonal challenges, experience greater life satisfaction, or process past traumas - your gains from therapy will be significantly enhanced by, and dependent on, the work you do outside of our sessions.

Think of it like physiotherapy or going to the gym only once every fortnight or even just once a month. Or learning a new instrument or a new language. What kind of gains would you expect and how quickly would you expect them, if all your work in those areas was limited to 50 mins every fortnight (or less)?

We know from experience how challenging it is to establish a new routine, to really get into those physio and gym exercises, especially if you don’t see immediate improvements. But like our muscles and physical body, our minds and emotions need repetition and consistent challenges in order to grow and change. For deep and lasting change to occur and be maintained, we actually need to change our habits, internalise therapeutic techniques and processes, and apply them outside of the therapy sessions.

This outside-of-session work is what this journal is for. To be your therapist at home. To be your guide, your reminder and your sounding board. This is a therapeutic journal designed to accompany and support you on your path to healing, self-discovery and personal growth. It is a space for reflection, exploration, and expression, and a tool to help you gain insights, set goals, and track your progress throughout your therapeutic journey.