Editor’s Note: Kayla’s Korner will be a reoccurring column that deals with mental health and teenage issues.

I first started going to therapy a little over two years ago. This came about when I sent my mom a text message that said “I think I am bipolar.”

This was during my sophomore year of high school and I did not really know what bipolar consisted of, although I knew the general idea of it. I mostly knew about the mood swings.

I texted my mom this after months of me feeling off. I remember that I would be in Italian class and I just did not feel like myself. It would happen every day and I would be like “When will I feel better?”

Basically, I would be happy for a few minutes and then I would be depressed and having self-deprecating thoughts the rest of the time.

I was so confused by this. I thought I must have had something going on with.

It ended up being a mixture of anxiety and depression.

My mom responded to my text, very confused and wanting to talk to me. We ended up talking that night and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I decided on trying out therapy.

I was hesitant at first though because I have always seen therapy in a bad light. A lot of people talk about it negatively and I always felt that therapy was only for people that went through tragic experiences.

My mom then found a lot of different places that I could go to in the area. She called and made sure they all took our insurances. We ended up going to one that was about 15 minutes away.

A lot of people do not know this, but therapy goes through insurance. It is considered the same thing as going to the doctor. You go to the doctor for physical injuries. Therapy is the same thing but with your mental state.

I first had an evaluation with a therapist. I can not give out her name for confidentiality reasons, but I will just say “she” for my therapist.

The evaluation consists of both my mom and me talking to her together and then both of us separately. I was so nervous, but she just asked guiding questions to learn about me and how she could help.  

I really liked her and she was really easy to talk to. She became my therapist after this evaluation.

It is really important when looking for a therapist to make sure you can easily talk to him/her and bond with them.

I meet with my therapist once a week to this day. I have a standing session with her every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. My sessions are 45 minutes, so it ends at 7 p.m.

At the place I attend, the usual session is 45 minutes, but they also have sessions for 30 minutes and 60 minutes long.

My therapist became my best friend. I know that sounds weird, but she gives me such amazing advice and really listens to me and helps me through all my problems.

Sometimes I will go in so upset to therapy and come out smiling and talking so much. My mom really noticed a difference once I started going.

For me, therapy is a place where you can talk and have no one judge you. You can talk about anything. Everything. It really helps to get everything out, even if it is small.

Sometimes, if nothing is really going on, we will play games. My therapist has taught me a lot of card games. We also love coloring while we talk too. She has really nice markers and a lot of those zen coloring books that I can take a page out of.

During this time, I usually bring my dinner since I go around dinner time. I have brought all types of food in there. The main foods I bring is a regular Chipotle burrito, a chicken caesar wrap from Ray’s Pizzeria in Hillsdale, or a chicken caesar salad from Panera.

I have gone through a lot with my therapist. She has helped me through my darkest times, but also has made my happier times even more happy.

I was always so scared to go to therapy, but it has changed my life for the better. I cannot imagine myself without it. It makes me feel so much better. I used to always keep everything in, but now I tell my therapist everything.

I am so grateful for her.

Therapy has made me more content and relaxed. It has given me an outlet to say what I am thinking and get advice that I can use on a daily basis. My therapist has also taught me most of the coping skills I use.

Anyone can go to therapy. You do not have to have depression or have had something bad happen to you. You can go just to talk to someone. It really is an amazing thing.

Coming next: Kayla’s Korner will be continuing with weekly articles. Next week will discuss what life is like with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).