There are a lot of misconceptions about therapy and what it means to talk to a professional. As individuals in society have learned more about therapy, there has been a change in the stigma we see around seeking help. Despite this, I still find myself correcting people when they deny their need for therapeutic services. I’ve found that there is still a belief that therapy is only for crisis situations. People believe that they don’t need help because they think they should be able to handle it alone. Which is an odd thought to have considering you wouldn’t tell someone with a broken bone to walk it off until the pain goes away.
While therapy is essential for crisis situations such as suicidal ideation or a recent suicide attempt, therapy is helpful in non-crisis situations as well. Regular, consistent therapy can provide you with emotional, mental, and relational wellness even if you aren’t considered a high-risk client.
If we think of therapy the way we think of other health services, attending regular therapy makes perfect sense. When someone experiences a physical injury such as a back injury, a doctor will assess if they’re in need of physical therapy or more emergent services such as surgery or medication. If someone has injured their back, they’re not expected to go through life with chronic back pain without seeking relief. People in their life will push them to see a doctor and alleviate their pain at the recommendation of a professional.
The same mindset can be applied to therapy.
If someone is walking through life with chronic depression or anxiety, it might not be visible to people in their lives. Most people are afraid to admit that they are struggling with their emotion regulation or overwhelming feelings. This reinforces the idea that mental health isn’t important and that people are expected to work on their problems alone. People believe that therapy is for crisis management only and most people don’t equate their problems to a crisis, so why seek help? You seek help for the same reason you would seek help for back pain – because it makes your life easier and because you deserve to feel better. You learn to cope with your depression or anxiety so that you don’t end up in a crisis situation.
Therapy can help with a range of issues including adjusting to life changes, stress management, strengthening your communication skills, processing a loss in your life, toxic relationships and their impact, anger management, behavioral concerns, executive dysfunction – and more!
Taking the time to be proactive about your mental health is just as important as your physical health. You wouldn’t think that seeking help for your physical pain is a cause for shame or a sign of weakness, and it’s essential to apply that same mindset to your mental health. There is no shame in needing someone to talk through your problems with. If you would like to begin your healing journey, reach out to a therapist at Mindsight today!
Shelby Case is a clinician offering in-person sessions at our Louisville office or telehealth sessions! She strives to make long-lasting connections with her clients in order to facilitate positive change. As a well-known homebody, Shelby enjoys living a cozy life outside of her time working by focusing on hobbies, spending time with her spouse, getting overly invested in TV shows, or cuddling with one of her cats.