I found therapy extremely helpful, but only when I had therapists that I strongly connected with. It' always starts uncomfortable talking about yourself all of the time, but you will grow to appreciate the opportunity. Sometimes the therapist telling you what's wrong isn't necessarily the way to approach things, and at times they just prompt you to see if you can develop the tools to come to your own conclusions and self-realizations... I would say give it 5-10 sessions. It takes time to grow on you...

Therapy was very helpful to me. I was shy and had anxiety. You need a good,
experienced therapist. I had several before I found the right one for me. And
it does take time. Nothing changes right away.

Therapy is helpful and effective, you should open up yourself for change.

I'm searching for a therapist. I go to a large group and share my issues out load and have for two years so paying for the kind of same thing is not easy for me to do but I need to try it and at least see if there is a deeper place inside I have not opened yet.

You could always find a open share group around you that help with just talking about your feelings. i go to a group called celebrate recovery and I have found it very helpful for almost two years now. I have seriously changed! it is all thanks to this program and being on DS! :) talking helps because your not alone!

Therapy helped me. My biggest problem was finding a GOOD therapist that matched my needs. Its not encouraging when you pour your heart out to a stranger and they get up from their desk and show you the door (this actually happened when one therapist started crying and said she would be unable to help me because MY life was too crazy!) Find a good support system. I've found I can open up to total strangers easier than people I know, and this site helps. (I also have joined many other sites as I have nothing to do right now.)

I have an excellent therapist, so speaking from personal experience yes therapy/therapists does/do work, it's a matter of finding the right one. The fact that you analyse yourself may be working to your advantage when it comes to therapy, I'm like that, and the only time my therapist becomes involved is if I am a bit off beam which is very rare, at the end of each session he always gives me a bill of good health. You may be healthier than you otherwise think you are.

I've been "in therapy" for half my life now...... I finally found a perfect therapist, and after 2.5 years she had to retire, unfortunately leaving me vulnerable.
But I was finally getting somewhere, and I think I know how to start getting somewhere again .

Therapy only 'works' if you commit to it, and give it everything you've got.
If you want to, but can't, medication may help you to reach this place.

It only 'works' if you have a therapist who you can learn to trust, and get along with, someone you can have a conversation with, and see as a falable person, not just a certificate and accreditation.

It only works if you want it to. And if you're willing to let it.
Change can be terrifying, even when it's necessary.....

It only 'works' if you do it for long enough.
It took 6 months of weekly meetings before my therapist felt that she understood why I was there!

My thoughts.... Some may not be relevant :)