Self-Growth in Therapy (Advanced Part 1): What Happens After You Start Self-Work in Therapy

— 5 Foundational Signs of Early Growth in the Therapy Process

In the Foundation article, we explored the four core qualities of self-growth in therapy.

Here in this Advanced Part 1 article, we focus on five key signs of early inner growth during the initial stages of therapy.

Next? In the Advanced Part 2 post, we take a deeper look at the challenges and transformations that can emerge as therapy progresses — and how to keep moving forward when self-growth meets inner conflict, emotional challenges, and relational stuckness.

This blog will walk you through the inner roadmap of therapy, to explore the more subtle, tender, and often unspoken signs of growth.

You have started therapy. You are showing up.

But some days, you wonder… Is anything actually changing?

This is a common question asked in therapy. It’s deeply human to want to know: Is this working? Am I making progress?

Therapy can feel slow, quiet, and even uncertain at times. But beneath the surface, something is already shifting.

In my previous article, I explored what self-growth looks like in therapy: the psychological strengths we often nurture over time, such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

But once the therapy begins, once the self-work actually starts, what begins to change?

What really happens in the process, between the sessions, or even inside you, even when things feel uncertain?

This blog is advanced Part 1 of my Self-Growth in Therapy series.

It is designed to walk you through the inner roadmap of therapy, to explore the more subtle, tender, and often unspoken signs of growth in your self-work.

Because psychological change is not always obvious. Sometimes, it unfolds quietly, in moments of pause, discomfort, or reflection.

This first post focuses on the early signs of growth. They are not always dramatic or easy to measure, but they are deeply meaningful.

Think of them as roots growing beneath the soil: subtle, steady, and foundational.

(Self-Growth in Therapy (Advanced Part 1): What Happens After You Start Self-Work in Therapy

1. Growing Sensitivity — A New Layer of Awareness

One of the first signs of inner growth is an increase in sensitivity, not in a negative sense, but as a deepening of perception.

You might become more emotionally attuned, more bodily aware, or more socially observant. You might suddenly feel more affected by conversations, atmospheres, or even music. It is common to ask:

“Why am I suddenly feeling so much more?”

This is not regression. This is insight in progress. You are becoming more connected to your internal worldm more alive to the nuances you once had to tune out.

This growing sensitivity becomes the foundation for more authentic responses, to yourself, your emotions, and your relationships.

Self-reflection is the process of making meaning. It builds the bridge between your present experiences and your deeper emotional truths.

2. Deepening Self-Reflection

As therapy continues, you may find yourself pausing more, reflecting more. You begin to go beyond describing what happened, and start to explore why it mattered, emotionally, mentally, and even physiologically.

You might say:

“I felt that knot in my stomach again during that conversation.”

“It’s not just that I got angry, it’s what that moment reminded me of.”

Self-reflection is the process of making meaning. It builds the bridge between your present experiences and your deeper emotional truths.

Over time, this self-reflection leads to greater emotional insight and more intentional living.

At the same time, self-reflection needs careful tending. Some days, you may brush past emotions. Other times, you may find yourself stuck in over-reflection, turning inward so much that it feels overwhelming.

Therapy becomes a space to explore your own rhythm of self-reflection, learning how to reflect with care, without losing contact with your day-to-day life.

Finding your balance is part of the growth. It is not about aiming for perfection, but about cultivating the right amount of reflection to feel connected, grounded, and responsive to your inner world.

3. Engaging With Your Emotions

Many clients are surprised to learn that emotional work doesn’t always begin with expression. Sometimes, it begins with noticing, or even just acknowledging that something feels “off,” vague, or numb.

As self-work unfolds, you start to:

• Recognise when feelings are surfacing

• Name emotions with more clarity

• Feel safer to express what has long been held in

• Regulate intense or overwhelming emotional states

This emotional engagement often creates space for a new kind of self-trust, the sense that “I can feel this, and it won’t break me.”

Over time, your emotional world begins to feel less like something to fear, and more like a compass guiding you.

Over time, your emotional world begins to feel less like something to fear, and more like a compass guiding you.

4. A Gradual Reduction in Distress

As your insight deepens and your emotional capacity grows, you may notice a subtle reduction in distress. This doesn’t mean life becomes easy, but your responses begin to shift. You might:

• Worry less reactively

• Recover from setbacks more quickly

• Feel less overwhelmed in situations that once felt intolerable

You begin to understand that you can carry your emotions, rather than be carried away by them.

This shift may not always be loud, but it’s one of the clearest signs that inner change is taking root.

5. Clarity Around the 'Why'

One of the most meaningful shifts in self-work is developing clarity about your patterns. You start to notice how your past connects to your present. How your thoughts shape your feelings. How your emotional needs have influenced your choices.

These kinds of inner tensions are normal. You do not need to resolve them right away; the work begins with noticing and allowing them to coexist. And gradually, the question changes from:

“What’s wrong with me?” to “What happened to me, and what do I need now?”

✧ Reflect:

Are there parts of you that seem to want different things?

What might it be like to hold both without choosing sides?

This clarity becomes an anchor for new choices, firmer boundaries, and a more compassionate relationship with yourself.

Final Thoughts (About self-growth in therapy: Starting Self-Work in Therapy)

If you are already in therapy and wondering whether you are “doing it right,” I hope this blog brings reassurance and recognition.

And if you are just beginning your self-work journey, I hope this gives you a glimpse of what is possible when growth is nurtured with care.

These early shifts in therapy are powerful. They are not the final destination, but they are signs that your self-work is already taking root.

But therapy doesn’t stop there.

As the work deepens, new questions often arise:

“What happens when two parts of me pull in opposite directions?''

''How do I stay emotionally open without losing balance?''

''And what if something in the therapy itself begins to feel unclear or stuck?''

In Part 2, we explore the deeper layers of therapy, including the relational work, internal tension, and how you can continue to grow even in the complicated or emotionally uncertain moments.

👉 Continue reading: The Deeper Layers of Self-Work in Therapy →

Early shifts of self-work in therapy are powerful. They are not the final destination, but they are signs that your self-work is already taking root.

🌿About Author Dr Tiffany Leung

I'm UK-based chartered psychologist with 13+ years of experience in therapy, coaching, and self-development. Holding a Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology from the University of Manchester, I work within the NHS and offer private practice services, supporting diverse clients in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin to achieve emotional well-being and personal growth.

👉 Book a session or learn more here.