“Trust the process.” It’s one of those phrases that gets said a lot in therapy spaces. It sounds wise. Reassuring. Almost spiritual. And sometimes, it can be helpful. A woman sitting on a couch, gesturing expressively while reading and discussing the contents of a large open book. But I won’t say it to you as a blanket statement. Not when you’re in the middle of something that feels confusing, painful, or uncertain. Because when you’re struggling, “trust the process” can land

You know the advice. “Be gentle with yourself.”“Talk to yourself like you would a friend.”“Practice self-compassion.” And yet… something in you resists. You try, but it doesn’t stick. It feels fake. Uncomfortable. Even unsafe. If this sounds familiar, you’re not failing. You’re not broken. You’re likely protecting yourself in the only way you know how.