Mental health care is just as important as physical health, and a visit to the therapist can help improve your life in many ways. However, therapy can seem intimidating, especially for those new to the experience.
Thankfully, several benefits to therapy can make the process easier.
Increased Self-Awareness
Many people seeking therapy are not in a debilitating crisis but have mental health concerns that interfere with their daily functioning and relationships. It’s never too late to address these concerns through psychotherapy.
During counseling, people learn how to talk about their feelings. This practice helps them recognize and express their emotions and teaches them to pause before acting on upset feelings. It also helps them discover how their past experiences, beliefs, and behaviors may affect their circumstances.
There are various types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and interpersonal therapy. Each approach has its unique benefits. However, finding a therapist you feel comfortable working with and trusting is important. Ask family and friends for referrals or search online if you need help figuring out where to start. Then, interview a few potential therapists and follow your instincts. Finding a therapist that is the right fit for you can make all the difference in your success with treatment.
Increased Self-Esteem
The work done in therapy can help a person develop a healthy relationship with themselves. In turn, this can boost one’s self-esteem. “You learn to accept yourself for who you are – flaws, failures, successes and all,” says Shelby Turner, a licensed professional counselor who works with adolescents and adults at her private practice in Greenville, South Carolina.
Therapy from licensed professionals can also teach people to recognize negative internal voices, such as critical or demeaning thoughts. They may also help them identify cognitive distortions or warped thinking patterns not based on reality. She adds that this allows people to separate themselves from these voices and replace them with more uplifting, self-compassionate ones.
Additionally, therapy can help people establish boundaries and improve their relationships with others. Many individuals with low self-esteem struggle to stand up for themselves or make their needs known, which can lead to toxic or codependent relationships. Therapy can help people break free from these relationships and find more fulfilling ones. It can also help them overcome fears and anxieties that keep them from enjoying life.
Increased Confidence
Having someone listen without judgment can allow clients to express their feelings in a safe environment. This will enable individuals to understand their emotions better, which can improve coping and enhance relationships on any level.
It can be challenging for some to identify and analyze their feelings, especially when they have experienced traumatic events or are dealing with chronic mental health conditions. A therapist will help their client identify these patterns and teach them healthier ways to manage their emotional experiences.
Additionally, therapy can help clients set life goals and support their journey toward achieving them. This can increase self-esteem and confidence by giving a sense of accomplishment. It also channels energy towards positive activities, which benefits physical health.
Better Communication Skills
Therapists help individuals learn to express themselves, both verbally and non-verbally. They teach people to listen more carefully, identify their thoughts and feelings and explore what motivates them. They also teach people to practice new skills in real life. This makes them more receptive to others and can help them find healthy ways to connect with family, friends, and romantic partners.
Often, mental health problems can lead to poor relationships with family and friends because people cannot communicate effectively. This is especially true if an individual has unresolved trauma from their childhood or experiences with abuse. Psychotherapy can teach people how to build more trusting relationships and set appropriate boundaries.
Therapy is beneficial to therapists as well because it helps them stay connected with their own emotional and mental well-being. It also allows them to empathize with their clients and avoid compassion fatigue or burnout. In addition, they may discover unconscious biases that could affect their client’s treatment. This is an important step in becoming a more effective therapist.
Improved Relationships
While many people seek treatment to address mental illness, there are benefits for those who want to improve their overall well-being. Therapy can help you learn to cope with the everyday stresses of life, develop better communication skills and build healthier relationships.
Some types of psychotherapy focus on addressing unconscious issues and conflicts. For example, psychoanalytic therapies use dreams or other methods to help you understand the roots of your problems. Other forms of treatment focus on behavior change to promote healthy habits and reduce negative patterns. For instance, a therapist might suggest a controlled series of exposures to a phobia trigger to desensitize you to your fears.
Whatever your goals for therapy are, your therapist will be there to support you and provide an objective perspective. They’ll help you set measurable and realistic goals that can be achieved over time. This is a powerful aspect of therapy and contributes to the feeling of accomplishment and self-confidence you’ll experience. In turn, this will improve your relationships and increase your happiness.
Featured Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash