Have you thought about trying out therapy but aren’t quite sure if you should? You should know that therapy can be useful and different for everyone. If you need support, experience symptoms, have gone through a difficult challenge, or are just seeking to improve yourself and your wellbeing overall, therapy can help you achieve those goals. Here are four reasons to try therapy today:
You’re experiencing specific mental health challenges
Mental health challenges like feelings of anxiety or depression or engaging in substance use or negative eating behaviors, therapy is definitely a good fit for you. As therapists, it’s our job to help you through mental health challenges. We’ll help you process stressors and feel better about yourself and the way you interact with the world around you.
A qualified therapist can help you change or reduce the frequency your behaviors. They’ll also walk you through coping with symptoms. In therapy, you can explore the root behind your diagnoses. You’ll learn to live with them while challenging yourself and your thinking patterns. If you’re currently experiencing mental health challenges, a therapist can help you to walk through them and learn to deal with them appropriately.
You need additional support
If you’re going through a difficult time, and feel that you need more support than you have access to, exploring therapy could be a good option for you. For those that have strained relationships with family, or very little social support, talking with a therapist can help you feel supported in working towards your goals or in processing challenges. Along the way, you’ll also learn coping skills and gain confidence in your own abilities. Through therapy, you may even learn to build a support system that can help you through difficult times, or just process how to have better relationships with the people already in your life.
You’ve experienced a traumatic event
Has something terrible just happened in your life, such as a sudden loss, a natural disaster, or some type of accident? If so, this is one of the strongest reasons to try therapy. Experiencing a traumatic event can have lasting effects throughout the lifetime if not dealt with properly. It’s commonly advised for individuals to seek therapeutic services after something intense has happened.
If you’ve experienced something traumatic, a therapist can guide you through dealing with the aftermath. You don’t have to do it alone. Working through therapy can help you to reintegrate into your life after a traumatic event. You’ll learn to deal with any lingering effects or fears that the event caused.
You’re seeking personal growth
There is still some lingering stigma, especially in older generations, about who really needs therapy. Even if you’re not experiencing specific symptoms, like panic attacks or sleep disturbances, therapy can be a great way to explore your emotions, needs, and relationships, and can help you grow as an individual. If you’re focused on bettering yourself and your wellbeing, or even just dealing with stress, therapy can help you grow.
Learn more about the author: About Therapist Samantha Nolan, MA, LPC, ATR- Barnum Counseling