Theory is fine, but...
Theory gets us somewhere! And all those amazing and often beautiful self-help work-books are amazing at getting us to open up... and then somehow, it sort of peters out, am I right?
The danger is to start thinking you can't be understood, or you can't understand yourself, or you're too complicated, or... dare I say it... too complex?
None of the above are true. There does however come a time when the rubber has to hit the road. After all, all the singing and music writing theory in the world won't ever produce the heartfelt melodies and lyrics of a musical masterpiece. For that, you've got to take all that amazing theory and put it into practice.
The same is true for the "you" stuff. Self-help materials gave you an amazing amount of self-awareness and you've started something fantastic. But when you start to lose focus, or interest, or enthusiasm, or anything else... know that it's not you. You've reached a point in your awareness that maybe needs to be shared, to be explored, to be held, to be felt...
Counsellors are pretty great space holders, "containers" for the exploration of your thoughts and feelings. If you've already begun work on some self-help stuff, great! You're ahead! And perhaps together we can maintain that momentum and make the theory count for something greater!
With warmth,
James