Is Therapy for Me? A Guide on When It Might be a Good Idea to Try Therapy
Do any of these thoughts prevent you from seeking therapy?
Therapy costs too much
Therapy takes too long
Therapist just give advice or tell you what to do
You must have a diagnosis to need therapy
The thought of therapy can come with many fears, questions, and doubts. For many years, therapy has been easily accessible by those with a higher income. However, therapy has now become more available and more affordable providing accessibility for those with lower income. Therapy doesn't always cost thousands of dollars or require several years’ time investment. So now that we know that it is available and affordable, how do you know if therapy is something for you?
Many people come to therapy with preconceived notions about what therapy is and some of those notions are inaccurate. Some people think that they must come to therapy to get advice about all the things they should be doing or to get the answers to all life’s questions. Some people believe that therapy is to cry or tell all your business.
Therapy is to help you to explore the challenges that you face and the things that will be most helpful for your circumstances.
Essentially, therapy helps individuals to get to the root of their challenges when they might be hidden by surface level issues. It also helps people to remove the band aid from the puncture wound, clean it out, and stitch it up so that it can properly heal, then provides a helmet and knee pads so that next time the injuries won’t be so bad.
Here are some common challenges that average people face that can indicate that therapy might be beneficial for you:
You struggle with communicating your needs.
If you have trouble with speaking up for yourself in personal or professional settings, therapy can help you learn how to communicate your needs. Things such as letting your boss know when you feel overly stressed or letting your husband know that you need help with the kids might be indicators that you struggle communicating what you need.
You are angry all the time.
If small daily things have the potential to push you over the edge, it often means that you’re overwhelmed and easily angered as a result. When things in life have brought you to a boiling point and you are not sure what to do, therapy can give you tools to cope with life’s stressors.
You struggle with understanding others.
If you find yourself questioning your child’s decisions or behaviors that you don’t approve of, or you struggle to understand why your girlfriend is in a bad mood all the time, there may be something preventing you from being able to understand what is happening. Therapy can help you learn to connect and understand others better.
You don’t know what your purpose is.
If you are in a place of limbo and you have no idea if you are on the right path, you might be searching for your purpose. Having a non-judgmental 3rd party can help you discover what you want and how to obtain it.
You struggle in social situations.
If you struggle with resolving conflict, have trouble making/keeping friends, or if you have a fear of being around several people at once, you are not alone. Therapy is a great way to safely explore how to better manage those challenges.
These are just a few reasons to consider trying therapy. You can collaborate with your therapist to set goals for your life and explore what ways will be the most helpful for you to meet your goals. It can be liberating to go to therapy to become a better version of yourself defined by their own criteria.
Ashley Turner
Counseling Intern
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