Why Therapy?

Five subtle reasons to see a therapist

The words “counseling” or “therapy” can sound intimidating to some and safe for others and at the same time there can be a stigma attached to it. Truthfully, it can be downright scary to share inner thoughts and feelings with a stranger. Maybe you have negative associations of going to therapy as a child, witnessed your parents’ divorce despite counseling, or have had a terrible experience with a counselor yourself. I’m sorry. Whatever your case may be, here are five subtle reasons meeting with a therapist is a good idea. 

One. Your friends aren’t helping (because it’s not their job). Yes, they are amazing people, they are there for you when you need someone to talk to, grab coffee with, be a shoulder to cry on, but they are limited in clinical ability to help you in a professional way. Going to a friendship instead of a professional for deeper inner work has the potential to put a strain on the relationship and foster unhealthy co-dependence.

Two. You overthink, and it’s not getting you anywhere. You’re the kind of person that plays the same negative event over and over in your mind. You have a hard time focusing on work or school because you are consumed with something that needs to be worked through on a deeper level, and you try to do it all yourself. You might be critical of yourself, never feeling good enough. This pattern of thinking can be changed into something positively beautiful. 

Three. You’re hard to be around. This can be a difficult one to confront in yourself, however, this can be revealing of unmet needs, underlying anger, unforgiveness, depression, anxiety, or biological imbalances. For example, a symptom of depression is irritability, and this can come out by being in a bad mood most of the time, or others feeling like they need to walk around eggshells around you. Ask a genuine, trusted friend if this is true for you.

Four. You have unresolved trauma. Trauma is “an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster” (American Psychological Association). However, it can also look like growing up with a parent who yelled at you all the time, a bad breakup, death or suicide of someone you know, or witnessing such events. Trigger responses or feeling the same feelings you felt at the time of trauma, are common for those who have experienced negative events.

Five. You want to thrive. You notice something in yourself that you want to be different, better. You want to know yourself better, explore your personality type through the Enneagram (an ancient personality discovery tool), and how to tap into your gifts to the world. Knowing more about yourself, life story, career choices, relationships can help you get to a place where you are thriving, instead of merely surviving.

Blog Disclaimer: 

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. No therapist-client relationship arises from this blog. The information provided and any comments or opinions expressed are intended for general discussion and educational purposes only. They should not be relied upon for decision-making in any specific case. There is no substitute for consultation with a qualified mental health specialist/counselor who could best evaluate and advise based on a careful evaluation. It is understood that no guarantee or warranty arises from the information provided or discussed on this blog.