⇒ Dealing with the Stigma

Even people who do attend therapy and know how helpful it can be might feel embarrassed or ashamed. Therapy isn’t for the sick, though—it’s for anybody who feels stressed, upset, or like they need to talk. In other words, therapy is for everyone.

Of course, there’s no rule that you have to post online when you start attending sessions. In fact, no one has to know—any therapist is bound to client confidentiality. That means, outside of a few extreme situations, your sessions are protected. It’s up to you if, and when, you decide to let anyone else know what you talked about, or that you’re even talking to anyone at all.

Unfortunately, there is still stigma attached to counseling that stops people from reaching out. While there’s no reason to feel ashamed about mental health, it can feel overwhelming to say that we need help—sometimes, it’s easier to just avoid it. As scary as it might seem, though, so much of therapy is just talking in a safe, protected space. It’s so simple, but it can do so much good for anyone who is struggling.

⇒ Ways that Psychotherapy Helps

Therapy is like a seed—it might not seem like much at first. For days or weeks, the dirt’s going to stay the same. This can be discouraging, but when we keep watering, something’ll eventually poke through.

Of course, maybe there are other things we’d rather be doing. Therapy is hard work, but when we stick with it, that plant grows bigger and bigger. Eventually it flowers into all sorts of beautiful things that benefit our lives in different ways.

⇒ Organization

We can get so busy running around everyday that we don’t have time to stop and process—therapy, however, gives us that. For about an hour, we’re allowed to really consider how we feel and what we think. Rather than letting things pile up, we can stop, breath, and look around at what’s going on in our head.

Therapy gives us a space to do this and the tools to take a step back and understand our reactions and emotions: to learn what we need in different situations. When we do this, we can clear our mental clutter so we feel less overwhelmed. Instead, we come out knowing more about ourselves, our wants and feelings, and how to treat ourselves better.

⇒ Relationships

There’s a reason couple’s counseling exists—communication is the key to healthy relationships. Unfortunately, we’re not always great at it. Therapy, though, can help us understand what we’re really saying and how to communicate what we mean. It opens relationships up, improving understanding and how we interact.

Of course, therapy isn’t just for romantic relationships. It helps us be a better friend, parent, neighbor, and co-worker—by offering and encouraging objective insight into our thoughts, values, and emotions, therapy creates more fulfilling relationships with everyone in our lives, including ourselves. 

⇒ Keeping on Track

Most of us have the special talent of getting in our own way. Whether it’s moving, finishing a project, making friends, or starting a business, fear, stress, and anxiety are great at stopping things before they even get started. Of course, therapy isn’t magic—we still have to do the hard work and put in the hours. However, it does give us a system of support and helps simplifies big tasks into small steps.

 Whether we’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t know where to start, or need help holding ourselves accountable, therapy gives us the tools to build towards our goals. It takes a village, and therapy can help you fill it.

⇒ Our Quality of Life

When we’re down or angry all the time, it’s hard to feel good about much. Therapy helps by teaching us to release negative emotions and allows us to create new perspectives—it provides us with someone who’s there to listen and to work on whatever problems may come up, even if it doesn’t seem like there’s a solution. This doesn’t mean we’ll always be happy, but by working through the past and having help with the future, we create more peace and happiness in the present.

⇒ Health

Starting therapy doesn’t mean you’re sick, but it can help you from becoming ill. This probably isn’t a surprise to anyone who has experienced bad stress: it turns your stomach, makes it hard to sleep, and raises your blood pressure. Our thoughts live in our bodies and there are so many studies that show the link between our mental and physical wellness. From better heart health to improved sleep, help with depression to less fatigue, there are so many ways therapy improves more than just our mood.

While everyone has a different journey with therapy, there is a therapist for everyone. There’s never a wrong or right time, but there is always help available if you’re experiencing any of the signs above or other problems. Whether it’s in-person or online, if life feels overwhelming, reaching out can be a great stepping-stone to positive growth.