Why you should go to therapy
I don’t need to tell you that there is a stigma surrounding mental health - you already know that. It’s so unfortunate and can honestly be downright discouraging, but I’ve made it one of my missions to bust that stigma. I’m here to tell you that everyone should utilize the helpful tool of counseling and that it’s not just for those with mental illness.
Some people go to counseling when they are in crisis mode, meaning they are experiencing some kind of tragedy, trauma, or difficulty and need help navigating and processing that.
Others go regularly as a type of mental health maintenance. A tune-up, if you will. They’ve found that talking through issues with their counselor helps keep stress/anxiety/depression levels down. As such, they’ve recognized the value in taking care of their mental health and have made the investment to see a therapist regularly.
By the way, counseling and therapy are interchangeable terms. They mean the same thing, just like therapist and counselor.
If you are in crisis mode or you’re experiencing symptoms of mental disorder, please find a counselor near you. If finances are a concern, there are almost always free resources available somewhere close. When I was doing my internship, I saw clients for free. I was a student, not a professional just yet. I’d taken all the classes, I just hadn’t graduated. I had a lot of the knowledge, just not a ton of experience. You have to start somewhere. Guess what? There are tons of counseling graduate students out there who need to get face-to-face client hours before they can graduate from their programs. You can talk to someone for free. All you have to do is call around to mental health practices/agencies and ask if they have any interns who are taking clients for free. Even some licensed therapists take on pro bono clients periodically. If they don’t have any interns, chances are they know of free counseling services somewhere. You may have to make a few phone calls, but resources are available.
Here are just a few advantages to going to therapy:
You have someone to talk to who is bound by confidentiality laws to keep your personal business to themselves.
They’re a third party individual who has the advantage of being outside of the situation and can therefore be un-biased and can offer different perspectives.
They have the head knowledge, no pun intend. heh. They’ve got an education in psychology which means they know about different types of therapy, how the mind works, different coping skills, and what can best help you in your situation. They can tailor your care to your personal situation and your very own personality. They are equipped to help you.
Talking it out with someone is incredibly therapeutic. When you confide in someone, you’re letting out all the stuff you’ve kept in your mind and it’s such a relief to let someone else help you carry it all.
It won’t take a lot of your time, and it also doesn’t have to cost much. You have nothing to lose but some stellar mental health to gain. Take control of your life and your mental health by seeing a therapist.
The resource I most often point people to is psychologytoday.com. The “Find a Therapist” search tool is so helpful because you can customize your search to your location, the insurance you have, the type of therapy you want/need, and you can even specify if you want a Christian/Jewish/Catholic etc. therapist.
I hope that you take this as the sign you’ve been looking for to go ahead and go to counseling. You deserve it. :)