Getting to therapy can be a process. Sometimes we wonder if we really need it, whether we’re “ready,” or whether it will actually help. And sometimes, we simply know that we could use some support.

As part of Care & Connect, a series of public programs on mental health awareness presented by the Museum of Chinese in America in partnership with Hamilton-Madison House, this storyJAM with the theme of Ready Enough invites four individuals to share their personal stories about coming to therapy. What made them feel “ready enough” to begin? What did they discover along the way? And how has therapy helped them navigate challenges, understand themselves, or maintain their mental wellness?

Following their sharing, we open the conversation to the audience. Attendees are invited to share their own experiences, reflections, questions, or stories about seeking support and caring for their mental health.

There is no single way to begin therapy, and no one definition of being “ready enough.” Sometimes, simply being willing to start the conversation is a form of care.