Therapy Isn’t Fast—And That’s a Good Thing

In a world filled with apps, articles, books, podcasts and AI tools that promise quick relief, it’s easy to and to feel impatient with yourself or the process and wonder why therapy takes time. Can't we just apply some "tools" or "skills" and feel better right away? The truth is, those tools can help in small ways and can be wonderful ways of supporting the work you do in (and out of) therapy —but they’re not the same as therapy.

Insight is not the same as healing

You might already know why you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or sad. But insight alone doesn’t shift long-standing patterns. Therapy helps you explore and stay with those deeper layers—especially the ones that don’t change just because you’ve named them (...because as much as "name it to tame it" is a helpful phrase, it's by no means a cure!). Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s broken. It’s about meeting yourself fully in the places that hurt and learning to move through those ways of thinking and feeling toward a new way of being in the world.

Real change is relational

We heal through being seen, heard, and reflected over time. A podcast or chatbot might offer ideas, but it can’t replicate the human relationship where a therapist remembers you, notices patterns, and stays with the inevitable mess of being human without rushing to fix it prematurely. Meaningful, lasting change takes time.

Slowness is not failure

In therapy, slowness is often a form of care. Change happens at the pace your nervous system and story can handle, which is unique to each individual...and while that's not necessarily quick, it's intended to be lasting.

Self-help vs. Therapy

Self-Help Tools	Therapy
Quick tips and frameworks	Space for your unique inner world
Surface-level coping	Depth, complexity, and nuance
Often solitary	You're not alone in it anymore
Temporary symptom relief	Rooted, relational healing

Remember: You’re not doing it wrong if it’s taking time. Real change grows at the pace of relationship—not optimization.