There are many roads that lead to therapy, and most involve some sort of suffering. Luckily, though stigma still exists, the view of mental health services in the United States has improved over the years. According to a recent survey by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 90 percent of Americans value mental and physical health equally. People are beginning to make the connection between mental health and overall well-being.
Attending therapy takes courage! It’s a significant step toward changing your life that should be celebrated. You’ve suffered a great deal before making that first appointment, and now you await your first meeting with nervousness, excitement, and hope. Success in therapy will require vulnerability, commitment, and honesty in recognizing and admitting the difficult parts of yourself that may be carefully hidden deep inside. Even in the safety of a well-established therapeutic alliance, that’s no walk in the park. I smile with pride and admiration when I think of the courage shown by my clients when confronting uncomfortable emotions, beliefs, thoughts, and past experiences.
While many people seek therapeutic services during a moment of crisis, therapy can be about more than alleviating symptoms; it can be about living a more fulfilling life and evolving into the person you hope to be.
Signs that therapy may be helpful for you
1. You are experiencing emotional distress
This includes feeling sad, worried, stressed, or overwhelmed. Life is filled with so many possible stressors, and going at it alone can be difficult.
2. People around you are telling you that help is needed
Sometimes it takes the people around you to tell you that help is needed. You may be defensive when you first hear it, but these are people who care about you and are able to see that you are not well.
3. You feel alone because you have no one to talk to about what’s going on
Sometimes you need an unbiased, confidential person beyond friends and family to turn to. And that’s where a good therapist can come in.
4. You feel you’re running out of resources
Seeking professional help when you feel like you’re running out of resources can be a good decision.
5. You’re struggling to adjust to life changes
Divorce, occupational changes, financial difficulties, relationship difficulties, the death of a loved one, or stage-of-life changes — this may be an opportunity to take control and learn a new way of navigating change.
6. You’re ready to invest in personal growth
You’re ready to invest the time and energy to better understand yourself, grow as a person, and be a better partner, parent, and/or friend. Therapy is an investment in the present and the future.
