You Want to Feel Like Yourself Again
Something brought you here today. Maybe it's the weight of anxiety that follows you from the moment you wake up, that tight feeling in your chest that never quite goes away, no matter how much effort you put into holding everything together. Maybe it's the persistent sadness that colors everything gray, making even the things you used to enjoy feel flat and meaningless. Or perhaps it's the sense that life is passing you by while you're stuck in patterns you can't seem to break, watching everyone else figure things out while you're still struggling with the same issues year after year.
Whatever it is, I want you to know this: your struggles don’t define you—they reveal the places within you where care and attention are most needed. And the fact that you’re here, looking for support, already tells me something important - you’re ready for things to change.
The Problem: Therapy Can Feel Harder Before It Feels Helpful
Here's something that might surprise you: nearly 47% of people stop therapy after only one or two sessions. Not because therapy isn't working. Not because they've reached their goals. But because the first few sessions can often feel more uncomfortable than expected.
People often expect “Session 1” to bring clarity or immediate relief. Sometimes it does. But more often, those early sessions stir up vulnerability, self-doubt, and old emotional patterns. Your brain is entering unfamiliar territory, and unfamiliar territory creates discomfort.
Many people interpret this discomfort as a sign that therapy isn't working, or that they're doing it wrong, or that maybe this whole thing just isn't for them. When actually, it's often a sign that the work is beginning.
Think of it like starting a new exercise routine after years of being sedentary. Those first workouts leave you sore, exhausted, and questioning your choices. But that soreness isn't failure—it’s your body adapting to something new. Therapy works the same way.
This is where so many people give up. They interpret the discomfort as evidence that therapy isn't for them. They tell themselves: "I tried therapy, but it didn't help." And they go back to their old patterns, their old coping mechanisms, their old ways of surviving rather than thriving.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
At Eckert Centre, we've walked alongside thousands of people through this exact experience. We understand the courage it takes to show up, to be vulnerable with a stranger, to admit that you need help. And we know from years of clinical experience exactly what it takes to move through the discomfort into genuine healing.
The research is clear: the therapeutic relationship (the connection between you and your therapist) is the single most important factor in successful outcomes. And that relationship takes time to build. Your nervous system needs to decide if your therapist is safe. Your brain needs to gather information before it can start applying it. Most people experience their first real breakthrough somewhere between Sessions 4 and 6. That’s when trust deepens, patterns become clear, and the pieces start coming together.
Most people quit right before that turning point.
The Plan: The Power of 8™ - Eight Sessions. One Transformative Path.
Eckert Centre’s Therapeutic Transformation Model
That’s why we invite our clients to begin therapy through The Power of 8™ Model, our structured and evidence-informed pathway designed to support meaningful and lasting change.
Not forever.
Not an overwhelming indefinite commitment.
Just eight weekly sessions to give yourself a real foundation.
Why eight? Because eight sessions give your mind and nervous system the time they genuinely need:
- Your nervous system settles and starts to feel safe. Trauma, stress, and anxiety activate fight/flight/freeze. The predictability of weekly sessions calms your stress response and regulates your vagus nerve.
- You build real therapeutic momentum. By week four or five, you're not just “starting therapy”—you're actually doing therapy.
- You develop clarity about what’s really going on. Patterns emerge. You understand what's driving your distress.
- Your coping skills strengthen and start to stick. Breathwork, grounding, and emotional regulation require practice to integrate.
- You experience what consistent, attuned support feels like. For many, this is transformative in itself. It’s the first time they've had a relationship where someone truly sees them.
The Power of 8™ gives you a structured, compassionate, clear path—one that aligns with how healing naturally unfolds.
What's at Stake
When people quit after one or two sessions, they often experience renewed symptoms, shame ("I failed at therapy too"), and hopelessness ("Nothing works for me"). Old avoidance patterns get reinforced. Anxiety often worsens. Relationships strain further.
The cycle continues.
Then, months or years later, when things get bad enough again, they have to start over from scratch. New therapist, new intake, new telling-your-story-to-a-stranger. It doesn't have to be that way.
Imagine What Eight Sessions Could Change
Picture yourself eight weeks from now: more grounded, more self-aware, more hopeful. You understand your patterns—why you react the way you do, where those reactions come from. You have tools that actually work when anxiety spikes or sadness creeps in. You feel safer in your own skin.
- You’re not a problem to solve—you’re a person growing into a clearer, steadier version of yourself. With the right support, people often find they feel lighter, more grounded, and more aligned with who they truly are.
- Your healing deserves time.
- The Power of 8™ is the perfect place to start.
Ready to begin?
Book your free Free 15-Minute Consultation today.
About the Authors
Michael Szabo, MACP., Registered Provisional Psychologist
Michael works with adults, teens, and families on the neurodiversity spectrum. From Autism to ADHD to trauma, Michael's goal is to help build an appreciation for your individual brain style and worth. His approach centers on creating a space where you can explore your experiences with curiosity and compassion.
Kimberly Eckert, M.Sc., R.Psych.
Founder & Executive Director, Eckert Psychology & Education Centre. Kimberly is a Registered Psychologist who has led a multidisciplinary team in Calgary for more than 30 years, providing counselling, assessments, and neurodiversity-affirming learning supports. Although she no longer sits in the therapist chair, she oversees clinical excellence across all programs and continues to shape the clinic's integrative approach to individual and family well-being.
Additional Reading and Resources
Preparing for your First Session
How Long Does Therapy Take?
Adult Counselling
Teen Counselling
Family Therapy
Free 15-Minute Consultation
Barkham, M., Connell, J., Stiles, W. B., Miles, J. N., Margison, F., Evans, C., & Mellor-Clark, J. (2006). Dose-effect relations and responsive regulation of treatment duration: the good enough level. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 74(1), 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.1.160
Wampold B. E. (2015). How important are the common factors in psychotherapy? An update. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 14(3), 270–277. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20238
Hansen NB, Lambert MJ, Forman EM. The psychotherapy dose-response effect and its implications for treatment delivery services. 2002. In: Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK69099
Swift, J. K., & Greenberg, R. P. (2012). Premature discontinuation in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028226
