I started seeing my therapist early in 2011. I was very overwhelmed with whatever drama I believed was controlling my mental process at the young age of 15. I was terrified to go into her office, to have to sit in front of a stranger and open myself up, but it has been one of the best decisions of my life.

My therapist is a short 20 minute drive from my house and once I hit the train tracks and pull into the parking lot I immediately start questioning what I feel is important to talk about at my appointment. Did a customer say something to me that really enlightened or pissed me off? What did I see when I looked in the mirror this morning? Does pasta or pizza sound better for lunch? I try to get my thoughts gathered before walking in, but whatever comes out is usually what needed to be cleared out of my brain.

There are a lot of stereotypes that go with therapy. People usually picture the long chaise lounge with a person lamenting over their feelings while a person in a dark leather chair shows ink blobs and asks the person what they see. My therapist does have a leather couch, but I sit on it and she usually sits at her desk and listens to me speak until she puts her advice into the spectrum. There have never been ink blobs. There is also the stigma with people who choose to go to therapy. I've been asked plenty of times why I go and many people just think I can solve my issues on my own, but even after five years of going to the same person I still struggle with things like body image, anxiety, stress and letting myself break out of what I am comfortable doing.

Needing or wanting to see a therapist is nothing to be ashamed of and it's healthier to talk to someone who doesn't know every detail. I tell my mom 99 percent of everything I am feeling, thinking or dreaming, but the other one percent is things we have done to make each other angry and that goes to my therapist who hears me out and gives me helpful solutions on how to deal with my feelings when my mom and I don't agree on silly things.

I haven't been to a therapy appointment since January and it has been more difficult than I imagined. For a time I considered stopping appointments because I felt okay and thought I knew how to handle situations that typically broke me down. I am okay without therapy, but I feel this pull and desire to talk to my therapist and I think it's because she knows who I am. She knows how I talk about myself and ways for me to change that to a positive outlook and she knows how I approach situations and is able to tell me what I could try to do different. She knows what I have tried that has worked and what I probably should avoid. She gets me.

I know one day I will probably stop going to see my therapist whether that be a money issue, a relocation issue or I just feel like I have been okay for awhile without help, but I am not ashamed of my therapy appointments. My therapy and, more importantly, my therapist have been a key reason as to why I can be who I am today. She has taught me how to love myself, when I allow it, and how to take control of the stress and anxiety that has consumed most of my adult life so far.

If you're thinking about talking to a therapist, do it. If you are currently in therapy, keep it up as long as you need to. Don't let anyone, including yourself, doubt your choice to seek help to better yourself.

I know I don't.