The Benefits of Therapy
The way we view mental health has significantly shifted in a more positive direction over recent years. Yet, there is still a considerable amount of stigma around seeking therapy. It’s important to highlight the benefits and clarify many of the misconceptions that people seem to have.
Attending therapy should not be viewed as exclusively for those struggling with a disorder. We need to debunk the whole “Therapy is for crazy people!” myth. Living in a fast-paced world filled with stressors and anxiety around every corner, we could all use the empathic understanding, chance to reflect, and clarity that therapy provides.
Everyone would benefit from seeing a mental health professional once a week to talk about their day-to-day challenges. Psychologist and writer, Ryan Howes, Ph.D., states that “The benefits of therapy extend far beyond periods of crisis. Many people want more than to be ‘not depressed.’ They wonder what they can do to be the happiest, most productive, most loving version of themselves.”
Therapy serves as a great way to engage in self-exploration to increase self-awareness, gain perspective, and enhance communication patterns. Specifically, it helps maintain and balance perspective to identify maladaptive coping strategies and replace them with positive ones. Many people struggle with high functioning anxiety and depression and never seek help because their symptoms are not debilitating enough. They may even choose not to recognize their symptoms or speak about them for fear of seeming “imperfect” in any way. These people can be athletes, doctors, CEOs, and the list goes on.
Though we have come a long way in terms of how we view attending therapy as a society, the stigmatization around the topic prevails. The stigmatization tends to vary amongst different cultures and socioeconomic groups, but it still exists primarily due to a lack of information. It’s essential to clarify the misconceptions and highlight the benefits of seeking therapy.
It can be difficult to talk about struggling with mental health issues of any severity for fear of being judged. The hope is to open the dialogue around these matters so that we don’t view them as personal failures, but rather normal struggles that can happen to anyone in life.
Therapy can help with more than just mental illness; it can help with challenging transitional periods, problems with decision-making, low self-esteem, and interpersonal effectiveness. Whether you are experiencing a crisis, struggling with motivation, or simply want to learn how to become the best version of yourself, therapy will help.
As one of my favorite quotes states, “Psychology cannot tell people how they ought to live their lives. It can, however, provide them with the means for effecting personal and social change.” -Social Learning Theory, Albert Bandura
It’s important to remember that as effective as therapy can be, it is a process that can take some time. And sometimes, things might feel worse before they get better. The truth is, it’s not easy to bare all of our fears, insecurities, and darker thoughts (even to ourselves). Committing to holding yourself accountable for your well-being and growth is challenging, but exceptionally rewarding in the long run.