In this episode, Michael Flores, LPC-S, and Arrianna Cervantes, LPC-Associate, explore a question many people quietly carry: “Will therapy actually work for me?” Whether you’ve had a disappointing experience in the past or you’re unsure how counseling is supposed to help, this conversation invites listeners to shift from fear-based expectations to a fit-based mindset. Michael and Arrianna discuss how therapy isn’t about performing, pleasing the therapist, or saying the “right” things—it’s about showing up as you are and engaging honestly with the process.

They walk through key questions clients can ask themselves before and during counseling, such as identifying your hopes for therapy and reflecting on whether you’re being fully honest so your therapist can truly help you. The conversation also highlights the importance of being an informed consumer of therapy—encouraging clients to ask therapists about their therapeutic approach, what sessions typically look like, and the types of clients they most often work with. Finding the right fit means choosing a therapist and setting where you feel safe enough to be real, supported enough to stay engaged, and challenged enough to grow—without shame.

Michael and Arrianna also address therapy in more complex situations, including court-ordered counseling and counseling while in litigation. They emphasize that therapy is meant to feel a little uncomfortable at times and that real progress comes from showing up with your genuine thoughts, concerns, and openness to the process. When clients stop trying to do therapy “the right way” and instead do it their way, therapy becomes far more effective and meaningful.

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