Although a lot has been done in recent years to decrease the stigma associated with therapy, seeking a professional for mental health – or “mental help” – still comes along with a good deal of assumptions. One of them being that therapy is for people who really need it; the broken, sad, helpless, or mentally ill. In reality, there are a ton of well-adjusted and happy people in therapy. These tend to be the kind of people who really understand the benefit of good therapy – the value and even higher quality of life that can come along with the kind of self-growth that takes place in the therapeutic setting. Below are a five reasons to seek therapy – even if everything in life is generally good.
1 – Overall self-improvement: Therapy is a setting that allows for goal-setting and accountability. If you’ve struggled to make progress in certain areas of life, therapy can serve as the platform for positive change.
2- Increased Awareness: Therapy can help you better understand yourself and why you do the things you do. A higher level of awareness as it relates to our thoughts, behaviors, strengths, and limitations, allows for a level of reflection that can help improve relationships, communication, and decision-making.
3 – Healthier thinking: Therapists are trained to help you identify negative and unhelpful thinking patterns. Finding new ways to frame problems or difficulties allows you to deal with life (and all of its ups and downs) in a healthier way.
4- Objectivity: Even if you have supportive family and friends, a therapist provides an unbiased ear. They can provide helpful feedback with a level of objectivity that’s almost impossible in any other setting. Because therapy is confidential, you’re able to talk about things that you might not feel comfortable talking to anybody else in the world about. This can provide a great deal of relief.
5 – Verbal processing: We all have things we need to say OUT LOUD. Most daily dialogue is internal – thoughts bouncing around your head. Verbal processing of current problems, stressors, or past events, can help you to resolve issues by just talking them out and answering questions your therapist might have for you.
Joel Schmidt, MA, LMHC
For a free “Float on Counseling” consultation, call 727-258-5231 or click here to send a message.
It’s good to know that a therapist can offer an objective ear and valuable input that is nearly hard to receive in any other situation, even if your family and friends are encouraging. My uncle, a Vietnam War veteran, has been grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for years, making family gatherings tense and challenging for him. Recently, he began experiencing frequent nightmares and struggled to connect with loved ones. After a heart-to-heart discussion, our family collectively decided that seeking help from a veterans therapy service would provide him with specialized support tailored to his military experiences.
Glad to hear that your uncle is getting help. Thanks for the comment.