A lot of things can get in the way of seeking therapy. We have all been impacted at some point by the stigma around mental health and may receive messages of criticism, mistrust, or judgement from society, media, or family members about therapy or mental health professionals. There can be a fear of “What if they lock me away in a hospital?” , “Will it be embarrassing to talk about my issues?” , “Won’t they just tell me to think positively?”. The fast pace of daily life and being stuck in the same routine can also get in the way making us feel like we don’t have time or there’s no other way to live. Or you may have hopelessness that nothing will work. So, if you are taking this first step of considering therapy, or maybe considering recommitting to therapy again, give yourself a ton of credit for working to overcome those initial hurdles.
Here are just a few benefits of therapy to consider as you make your decision:
⦁ Therapy can offer support and validation from someone who will take a neutral, unbiased perspective on your situation and choices. Counselors are not there to judge you or tell you which direction to take, but rather to help you see all of your options and feel comfortable proceeding as you feel is best.
⦁ As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor I have over a decade of education and practical experience with evidence based approaches to address mental health issues. Allow me to share the tools and skills that can best benefit you, so that you can create your best life.
⦁ The vast majority of people have some mental health symptoms or communication issues, but many refuse to acknowledge them or do anything about it. Engaging in therapy doesn’t mean something is wrong with you, it means you are brave and proactive enough to make the conscious decision to acknowledge what isn’t working and try to improve it.
⦁ A therapist can help you maintain accountability. Talking about skills and changes in session is great, but if you’re not applying them in everyday life they aren’t going to be helpful. Just like a personal trainer can help you with committing to exercise and supporting your physical health, a counselor can help you commit to coming to therapy, practicing skills outside of session, and changing your lifestyle to support growth and success.
⦁ A therapist can help you measure and track your success and changes. We often have trouble noticing or giving ourselves credit for the positive choices we make and over time if we’re not getting reinforcement from others it can be hard to see how far we’ve come and the progress we’re making. Engaging in therapy can help you identify and keep track of what’s working and what’s not and how much skills are helping over time.
⦁ Being stuck in misery, emotional break downs, anxiety, poor communication, and failed goals all take massive amounts of time away from living the life we want to live. You can save time in the long run by making time to address and resolve the problem now so you can move forward with your life.
If you’re ready to make a change in your life or have more questions about if therapy is right for you, call or send an email today.
