‘Be picky’: how to start therapy

‘You are going into a situation in which you are sharing very vulnerable and intimate details about yourself with someone who, at least initially, is a total stranger.’ Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian

A lot of people feel bad. One in five American adults experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the UK, 40.5% of people with anxiety experienced “medium” or “high” levels in 2022 and 16% of adults experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

For many, psychotherapy is an effective way to address a range of concerns – from diagnosed mental illnesses to a general sense of dissatisfaction or inertia.