How can therapy help me?

In the past few years, more people have become open to therapy. There’s still work to do but people are more accepting of the idea that going to therapy on a regular basis is a way to care for their mental well-being—the same way people go to the gym to care for their physical wellbeing. 

The good news is, therapy is not one-size-fits-all. If you’re struggling to any degree (which applies to just about all of us in our own unique way), therapy can help you move forward.  

Why Should I Go to Therapy? 

If you’re asking yourself the initial question of “Is therapy right for me?” that’s your first sign it is. Therapy has a time and place for everyone, regardless of the “size” of their obstacles and problems. 

Therapy isn’t “reserved” for people who have been through the worst losses or hardships. Everyone has their own traumas and obstacles. Comparing your struggles to someone else’s only holds you back from getting the help and resources you need and deserve.

In the words of Melanie Dalton, LCSW, a licensed therapist at UpLift, “Adversity is not a competition. There’s always going to be someone who’s had more trauma or loss than you. That’s their baseline, not yours.” 

Therapy is like having an unbiased, third party you can go to as a “life consultant.” Everyone needs someone they can go to discuss barriers they’re facing in their relationships, family life, and work, or difficulties they’re encountering in changing behaviors and narratives that no longer serve them. 

Therapy As An Investment In Yourself 

There’s never a bad time or place to start when it comes to therapy. Once you start, you’ll learn about what you need and don’t need, what resonates and what doesn’t, the kind of support you’re craving, and outcomes you’re hoping to see over time—but you can never get there unless you start. 

Think of therapy as an investment in yourself: It’s the same as investing in a good pair of walking shoes so you don’t get shin splints or doing a training to upskill and progress in your career.

What Are the Benefits of Going to Therapy?

One huge upside of going to therapy is learning to express your issues and solve them with someone else who’s specifically trained to do so. 

This isn’t to say going to your friends and family members with your problems is a bad thing. Having others you can rely on for social support is important, but it can potentially strain those relationships over time. 

Therapy, on the other hand, provides you with an outlet to get things off your chest and develop techniques to manage them so they don’t hold you back.

Besides an outside, unbiased party, therapy can also provide:

• Support and validation
• A judgment-free space 
• Techniques, frameworks, and skills rooted in science 
• Realizations about yourself, your values, and your priorities 
• Self-awareness of your past and current thoughts, behaviors, and emotions 
• Sustainable and healthy coping mechanisms 
• A guide for better communication, boundary setting, and understanding relationship dynamics for higher quality connections
• Stress management
• Behavioral change techniques
• Decision making and problem solving skills (say goodbye to overthinking)

What Are Some Signs I Should Be in Therapy? 

Even if you feel pretty good with where you’re at in life, therapy can still add value. (We’re all human and constant works in progress.) No one will ever have it all figured out. 

That said, here are some signs to strongly consider therapy:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, or stress 
• A life change (eg, starting a new job or losing a job, moving, ending a relationship or starting a new one, losing a loved one)
• Ongoing relationship or friendship difficulties 
• Having a hard time practicing healthy coping mechanisms and relying on outlets like substances, food, video games, or porn
• Going through a traumatic event (eg, accident, loss, no longer in touch with a close friend or family member, injury, etc.)
• Persistent low self-esteem, poor self-image, and negative self-talk 
• Feeling disconnected from yourself and others
• Mood swings and unpredictable emotions that affect your quality of life and ability to show up at your best 
• A lack of purpose, direction, and motivation in your life
• Physical symptoms—headaches, stomach issues, pain, etc.—without a clear cause, even after consulting with a physician 
• Struggling to change negative behavior patterns even when you know it doesn’t serve you

If you are considering suicide, are in danger, or know someone who is danger, therapy can help but we strongly recommend more immediate care: You can can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that’s available 24 hours or call 911 for an emergency. 

What Does A Therapist Do?

In today’s world, there are many different styles and approaches to therapy. 

“Some therapists are very directive and approach each session with an agenda, specific goals, and homework to ensure you stay on track to meet those goals,” says Dalton. “Others are more client-directed and let you guide the direction of each session, depending on what’s top of mind in your life.”

All in all, therapists—also known as counselors or psychotherapists—are professionals, trained to provide support, guidance, and treatment to individuals, couples, or groups who are dealing with all ranges of mental health, emotional, and life challenges.

What you can usually expect from your therapist

1. Assessment

In your first session, your therapist will get to know you and your needs. Based on your current condition, life circumstances, and concerns, they’ll develop a plan with you.

2. Treatment & Advocacy

Therapists use different therapeutic approaches and techniques to help you work through your challenges, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoanalysis, or interpersonal therapy. What they use depends on their specialties and your needs.  

Based on your circumstances, you may need a combination of psychiatric and psychological support. That means you may need medication in addition to therapy to help you through this period in your life, which is very common. They may also refer you out to other specialists or community resources, if necessary. 

3. Strategies & Support

Therapists offer space for you to express your thoughts and feelings without judgment. They provide emotional support and help you build tools like new coping mechanisms, stress management techniques, and problem-solving skills for healthier, more adaptive behaviors. 

They also serve as a guide in helping you pinpoint patterns, thoughts, and behaviors that may not be serving you so you can begin the process of forming new ones. 

Like Dalton says, “Therapy will always be a positive, regardless of where you’re at or what you’re going through. There’s no ‘wrong’ time to go to therapy.” 

As stated earlier, there’s no bad time or place to start, and anyone can benefit from therapy. No matter what your goals are, finding a therapist you connect with and starting the process can help you reach them.