3 Reasons to Go to Therapy (When You're Not in a Crisis)
/Of course if you are suicidal, depressed to the point of not getting out of bed, or anxious to the point of not leaving your house, you know it’s time to get some help. But if you’re doing pretty well, all things considered,(a year of pandemic, social distancing, working from home, schooling at home, economic stressors, etc) you don’t really need therapy - right?
Here are three reasons you may not have considered for getting therapy.
Therapy is a form of self-care. Think of it as preventative maintenance. You get your physical checkups to detect problems before they become a danger to your health. You probably take your car in for oil changes and other preventative maintenance. Have you considered the same for your mental health? Many clients schedule occasional sessions just to talk through new situations that arise because they have come to value the preventative aspect of this form of self-care.
Connection is the antidote to stress. We’ve all heard of the dangerous effects of stress on our bodies, but did you know that connecting with another human being during a stressful experience has a protective effect on our bodies. It expands the blood vessels and calms the nervous system. When we’re no longer alone, our bodies are able to normalize and our minds are able to problem solve. Therapy iteself is a form of connection however, I also teach techniques to help you build connection with yourself and others.
You will have a “go to” person if you do experience a crisis. Establishing a therapeutic relationship now can make it easier to seek help when you hit the next bump in life’s road. Many people wait until they are in crisis to look for a therapist. Then they find it hard to choose. But by seeking out a therapist now you have the benefit of slowing down and being methodical in your search. You can make a list of questions to ask of a potential therapist to see if they are a good fit for you. (Watch for a future blog post about what to ask a potential therapist).
If you have a teen the same principles apply for them. They can also benefit from preventative maintenance. And since teens are naturally pulling away from parents at this stage of development, it can be helpful to provide them with a person you can trust to help them through things they are not ready to share with you. Choosing a therapist for your teen before they are in crisis gives your teen the opportunity to develop a trusting relationship with the therapist so when something disturbing happens they can open up about it.
If you would like to know more about how I work or how my colleague Michelle works with adults or teens please feel free to call. We can schedule a free initial consultation so that you can ask questions and get to know one of us before there is a crisis.
