Why I go to therapy and why you should too

If you follow me on social media you’d know that I’ve been super open about my struggles with mental health during 2019. Periodically I would share how I was coping with difficult feelings/emotions and I’d commonly get a lot of support and positive feedback. I’d also get many of my friends telling me that have in the past or are currently feeling the same way that I do, and they were thankful for my courage since it made them not feel so alone. 

Through these moments I noticed that all of us have struggles that we hide from others in order to seem like we’re happy and have it all together when really we’re taking life one day at a time and trying things until something sticks. While mental health is a topic that is commonly talked about in our society, it can still be hard to admit that you’re struggling and need help or support. 

Though it can be difficult to prioritize yourself, it’s imperative that you find a way to do so. One way that I’ve been able to truly care for myself mentally and emotionally is through therapy. I have a therapist that I see on a weekly basis and have been for over 7 months. The one hour that I spend with her is often the highlight of my week and I always look forward to it. My path to finding a therapist was a long and difficult journey that took about 6 months, but it was worth it to find someone that I connect with and that understands me. 

Now that I’ve found a therapist that really pushes me to grow as a person, I recommend therapy to any and everyone that I come in contact with. The benefits that I’ve seen during the past 7 months are incredible and it’s something that I wish everyone had the opportunity to experience. Because of this, I want to share three reasons why I continue to go to therapy and why you should consider seeing a therapist as well. 

#1: They’re an unbiased party that can share a new perspective about your life and struggles

Every week I go to my therapist, share the experiences I’ve had since our last session, and without fail she’ll share a perspective that I’d been missing or give me an additional way of looking at a situation. The ability to get this feedback is so crucial to developing my own opinions and listening to my own voice. 

As an only child, I often find it hard to get opinions from others that are both wise and unbiased. With my family, I find that where they’re very wise and experienced they commonly give me feedback that’s rooted in their own interests, experiences, or opinions. While at face value there’s nothing wrong with that, I sometimes struggle with determining my own opinion and holding my ground around my loved ones. So having someone to objectively help me think through situations and create an action plan is crucial. My therapist gives me the space and perspective to do so and I appreciate it greatly. 

#2: They assist you in confronting and challenging unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and habits

While you may not think you have unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and habits, chances are you do. Sometimes it takes a therapist to not only point out the unhealthy parts of your mental and emotional self but also challenge you to change them. 

#3: They aid in healing your past trauma and learn new coping mechanisms

No matter if you’ve had a major tragedy in your past or not, we’ve all experienced trauma. When we don’t heal our traumas we can develop unhealthy coping mechanisms that enable us to attract, avoid, or diminish similar situations. Those traumas can also dictate how you look at and deal with many situations in your life. If you work on healing your trauma, you can also work on changing your coping mechanisms. 

“Sometimes all it takes is knowing someone cares”.