Five Reasons to Seek Therapy You Probably Haven’t Thought Of
“BUT HOW DO I REALLY KNOW IF I NEED TO SEE A THERAPIST??”
This is a question I get often from not only just potential clients, but also my own friends and family. I work with plenty of folks who say they don’t have a “big reason” for therapy - they generally feel as if they can function and go about their daily lives, but may still be experiencing levels of stress, discomfort, or worry that impact areas of their life. There are many people who will put off seeking help because they feel as if their problems are “not severe enough” to warrant therapy.
I am OBVIOUSLY biased, but I feel as if there is no issue too small to seek out therapy for. There are TONS of reasons to start therapy, and they are all equally valid.
HERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS TO SEEK OUT THERAPY YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T CONSIDERED:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It is way better to deal with concerns BEFORE they become a crisis. Therapy is a form of preventative health care for many.
You’re tired of getting unhelpful advice from people when you’re talking about something that is really important to you.
Friends and family usually have the best of intentions, but intent doesn’t always equal impact. You might want a little more space to explore with someone how you’re feeling and what you truly want. A good therapist will offer more than just advice - they can offer solid support, thoughtful understanding, and meaningful guidance that you might not get from the people closest to you.
The collective human species just lived through (and is still feeling the ramifications of) an incredibly tough past few years.
The COVID-19 pandemic upended many folks’ ideas of normalcy. Political conflict, the threat of war, concerns about global warming, and a constant barrage of tragedies reported by the media haven’t helped either. The world was experiencing unprecedented rates of mental health concerns PRIOR to the pandemic, but the events of the past few years have really added fuel to the fire.
For science!
Study upon study upon study has shown that therapy has unique and long-lasting benefits. Potential positive outcomes from therapy include improved communication and conflict resolution skills, greater self-acceptance and self-esteem, better understanding and regulation of emotions, and the ability to change self-defeating behaviors and habits.
Because you deserve it.
You deserve a time and place to focus on your own thoughts, needs, and desires, without influence or input from anyone else in your life.