Healing Doesn’t Mean You’ll Always Feel Good
(What Therapy Actually Feels Like Sometimes by a counselling psychologist in Mumbai)
If you’ve just started therapy or are thinking about it, it’s natural to wonder: “How will I know if I’m healing?”
Many clients begin with the hope that they’ll feel instantly lighter, more in control, or finally at peace. But the reality? Sometimes healing feels the opposite.
Some days, you’ll feel clearer, more connected to yourself. Other days might feel heavy, messy, and uncertain like you’re going backwards. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re finally feeling.
I’m Hartika, a counselling psychologist based in Mumbai, and in this post I’m sharing what emotional healing really looks like in therapy, and why discomfort isn’t a sign of “failure” but of growth.
Healing Isn’t Linear And That’s Not a Bad Thing
In therapy, we’re not trying to erase your difficult feelings. We’re creating space for them safely, gently, and without judgment.
Many of us have spent years pushing things down: old wounds, anxious thoughts, traumatic events, emotional exhaustion, unspoken grief. So when it starts to rise up in therapy, it can feel disorienting. You might even think:
- “I thought I was getting better so why do I feel worse today?”
- “Maybe therapy isn’t working.”
- “Am I too broken to heal?”
Let me reassure you: discomfort is not a sign that therapy is failing. It’s often a sign that it’s working.
What Emotional Growth Can Feel Like
Growth doesn’t always look like confidence, or only “good” feelings. Often it looks like:
- Finally crying after holding it in for years
- Feeling angry or lost and not numbing it
- Realizing you want different boundaries with people
These feelings might be new, raw, even overwhelming and that’s okay. In therapy, we make space for this complexity and help you make sense of it.
There’s no “Perfect” way to heal
Therapy isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about slowly, compassionately, peeling back the layers of what’s been heavy and finding the version of you underneath who’s allowed to feel, to rest, and to grow.
So if you’re in the thick of it, unsure, messy, doubting everything, please know this:
That, too, is healing.
Common Questions I Hear from Clients:
“Does feeling worse sometimes mean therapy isn’t working?“
Not at all. Feeling worse can mean you’re finally touching emotions you’ve avoided. It’s often a sign of progress.
“How long will setbacks last in therapy?“
Everyone’s journey is different. With tools and support, most people find that setbacks become less intense and shorter over time.
“Should I talk about my setbacks in sessions?“
Yes. Setbacks are valuable moments to bring into therapy. Exploring them helps you understand yourself more deeply.
“Can therapy stop setbacks from happening?“
Therapy can’t prevent all challenges in life, but it equips you with resilience and self-compassion so setbacks don’t define you.
“How do I know if I’m making progress despite setbacks?“
Progress often looks like bouncing back quicker, recognizing patterns, and being kinder to yourself. Not the absence of struggle.
Benefits of Starting Therapy
Over time, therapy can help you:
- Build self-awareness and emotional clarity
- Understand your anxiety or stress triggers
- Heal long-term emotional patterns
- Reconnect with your self-worth
- Set boundaries and communicate more clearly
- Move from just “coping” to actually living
Therapy in Mumbai or Online
I offer both online therapy and in-person sessions in Mumbai for adults navigating:
- Anxiety & Overthinking
- Self-Esteem Issues
- Emotional Regulation
- Low Mood
- Relationship Struggles
Healing isn’t about never stumbling. It’s about learning to walk with steadier steps each time.
Ready to take the first step?
You can book a session here or reach out to ask a question. I’d be glad to connect whenever you’re ready. I also offer free of charges brief pre-consultation calls to see if we’re a good client-therapist fit. You can visit our FAQs to learn more.