Therapy has become a buzz word recently, and specially after the pandemic, people have started talking more about the need to be going to therapy and the stigma around it has somewhat been reduced. Now, in 2023, we’re talking openly about going to therapy or what our therapist tells us.
People not only look for therapy when they are in challenging situations, they go to therapy to take care of themselves, to break patterns, to discover new ways of behaving, as well as to heal from trauma, no matter what type of trauma they’ve been through. Anyone can benefit from therapy, even if you think you have nothing to say or unravel.
Here are a few reasons on how therapy could help you:
Creating self-awareness – Therapy will provide you with a safe and supportive space to explore patterns of thinking, feelings and your behaviors. A good therapist will encourage self-reflection, and deeper understanding of yourself. When you can see yourself from a more distant lens, this creates self-awareness, personal growth and the ability to make informed decisions in your life.
Improving problem solving skills – In therapy you can learn new skills to help you solve daily problems. You and your therapist can work together to come up with strategies to manage stress, conflict, difficult emotions, and ultimately enhance your ability to navigate life’s challenges no matter how big or small they are.
Improving relationships – In therapy you can learn effective communications skills, learn how to be in conflict, sit with uncomfortable emotions, and how to listen during conflicts. Whether you want to improve the relationship with your family, your romantic or professional, the tools learned in therapy can empower you to build strong and more fulfilling connections.
Emotional regulation – emotions are part of the human experience, they exist to show us what’s happening to us, and in therapy you can learn how to sit with emotions and understand what they want from you. Knowing that emotions are natural and important for us is the first step in achieving a well-balanced life. Second step is to learn how to regulate the emotions we feel. This can be done by acknowledging them, understanding the messages they bring, and regulating yourself. There are many tools to help people regulate difficult emotions and with time you can cope with difficult situations and emotional challenges in a healthier way.
Personal growth – therapy isn’t always only to cope with life’s difficulties, it is a catalyst for personal growth. Therapy is not an easy process, you will be in touch with your most feared wounds, past events, I am not going to lie. But at the other end of the tunnel there is light and understanding of your own path and that every challenge can be overcome with hard inner-work and dedication. Therapists will only be a guide on your self-improvement journey, they will plant seeds that with time and work will become beautiful trees.
Confidence – Low self-esteem and self-doubt are very common among us. We hear a lot of negative messages about ourselves from the world around us. Therapy can help people challenge unhelpful patterns of thoughts and self-perceptions, helping them build trust in themselves. Therapy can offer tools so you can find new beliefs and start gaining a new sense of your own truth.
Mental Health Support – Therapy can serve as a preventative measure to help individuals develop tools to support them on their mental health challenges and build resilience. Early intervention in times of difficulty can prevent issues from escalating into more serious mental health conditions.
In summary, therapy is not only for people in crisis or serious mental health challenges. Therapy is for everyone willing to dive deep into their own psyche and embrace change. It is not easy, but it can be so fulfilling and empowering to be able to see and accept yourself as whole and equipped to change and grow. Our nervous system is wired to grow and change, we sometimes just need a safe and compassionate space to process pain, learn new ways of relating, accept challenges, process trauma and become who we want to be.