Am I Unwell Enough for Therapy?

When your therapist asks, “So, what brings you to therapy?” … how are you supposed to answer? Should you say something profound, or shrug and mumble, “My husband.” In our culture, there’s an unspoken rule that help has to be earned, as if you’re owed compassion once you’ve proven you’re “unwell enough.” That mindset makes therapy feel like a last resort, rather than an option to explore before things unravel. It leaves you second-guessing: Do I qualify? Do I need a doctor’s note? Or are our TikTok sages right, and just existing is enough?

This workbook explores the many reasons people start therapy (spoiler: they’re all valid). At the same time, we’ll examine how insurance and public health systems (across different countries) can create the impression that you must “deserve” help, and how a diagnosis can influence your sessions. At its core, this workbook is intended to help you feel more grounded in that awkward, uncertain space before therapy. You’ll find questions throughout to help you consolidate what you’ve learned.