Girl Code Guide to Therapy

By Shayla Johnson-Bunion

I’ve accomplished a lot of things in my 32 years on earth, and one my proudest achievements has been going to therapy. I know that sounds strange given that therapy is not something people usually brag about. Honestly, the clarity I gained from therapy has put me in a position of favor and gratitude that I’ve never experienced before.

I didn’t go to therapy because things were horribly wrong in my life. In fact, things were okay. I just needed a little guidance from an unbiased professional. I have a great career, my bills are paid, I’m able to travel, and I can still afford an occasional Fashion Nova splurge (Lol)! But there were also feelings of fear, uncertainty, and anxiety that were tugging at me.

The easy thing to do has been to hit up a Happy Hour with friends, sip $5 cocktails, and enjoy mini appetizers while laughing away my “9-5 problems.” I tried going to church, yoga, facials, and just about every form of self-care you can think of. For me, nothing quite compared to feelings of relief after talking to a therapist.

Once I got over the intense anxiety of making the first appointment, I began to look forward to my bi-weekly sessions. Eventually, Tuesdays became my favorite day of the week because I knew that one whole hour would be devoted to me and only me during my session. What I loved most about therapy was validation, accountability, and hearing a different perspective. I went in for one small issue and ended up addressing many others.

Some sessions were harder than others and there were times I wanted to quit, but I kept showing up because I saw a “ripple effect” of healing in every aspect of my life. Looking back, the scariest part of this journey was making the first appointment.

I’m thankful to women before me like Myleik Teele that openly talked about therapy on their platforms making it easier for me to do the same. I’m glad I had other women in my life to hold my hand through the journey and I hope to do the same for others.

The best gift of all is that therapy has helped me to fully enjoy other ways I take care of myself: church, facials, Happy Hour, and a 40% off Fashion Nova sale!