A few decades ago, therapy had a reputation. People would share something painful, complicated, or deeply personal and eventually hear: "And how does that make you feel?" The question became so associated with therapy that it found its way into films, television, and comedy sketches. These days, I wonder if we've found a new version of it. "Where do you feel that in your body?"

Therapists are still people. We still get overwhelmed. We still overthink things we said three days ago. We still have moments where we avoid things we probably shouldn’t. We still feel anxious, tired, frustrated, and unsure. The difference isn’t that we don’t experience these things. It’s that we might recognise them a little more quickly. Or have language for them. Or know where they come from. But knowing something doesn’t mean you’re immune to it.

“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