You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out: Therapy as a Tool for Growth, not Just Crisis
by Paola Rodriguez
Seeking therapy for the first time can feel intimidating especially if you’re the “strong one,” the fixer, or the person everyone else turns to. Maybe you’ve been taught that therapy is only for moments of crisis, or perhaps you grew up in a culture where emotional struggles were minimized, or met with silence. As a first-generation Latina and mental health professional, I understand how deeply those messages can run. But I want you to know this: therapy isn’t just for when things fall apart. It’s also for when you’re trying to hold it all together.
Many of the clients I work with are navigating big transitions starting college, figuring out what they want from relationships, managing family expectations, or just trying to feel more grounded in who they are. These experiences can be overwhelming, even if everything looks “okay” on the outside. It’s common to feel stuck between cultures, between identities, or between who you’ve been and who you want to become. Therapy offers a space to explore all of that with curiosity, not judgment.
You don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to reach out. In fact, some of the most powerful growth happens when we give ourselves permission to slow down and check in with how we’re really doing. Therapy can help you make sense of the internal noise, develop a stronger relationship with yourself, and break out of patterns that no longer serve you. It’s not about having all the answers but i about creating space to ask the questions that matter.
If you’re a first-gen young adult, chances are you’re carrying more than just your own story. You might feel pressure to succeed, to make your family proud, to push through without asking for help. Healing doesn’t mean letting anyone down. In fact, giving yourself the care and attention you deserve is one of the most powerful ways to honor the people who came before you.
Whether you’re navigating anxiety, identity, relationships, or just trying to understand yourself on a deeper level therapy is a place where you don’t have to perform, explain, or prove anything. You get to show up as you are. So if you’ve been waiting for the “right” time to start therapy, this might be it not because you’re broken, but because you’re ready to grow.
Paola Rodriguez, MA, is a bilingual therapist fluent in English and Spanish, offering culturally responsive, trauma-informed care to teens, young adults, and adults. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, identity exploration, and life transitions. With experience in community mental health, domestic violence programs, and legal system interventions, she is committed to creating an affirming, nonjudgmental space where clients can heal, grow, and feel truly seen.
Paola is passionate about increasing access to mental health care for the Latinx community and other marginalized populations. Her integrative, collaborative approach draws from evidence-based practices including CBT, ACT, DBT, and psychodynamic therapy to ensure care is personalized, empowering, and deeply respectful of each client’s unique story.
