Other things you may be wondering are “can therapy help me?” Or “Is therapy right for me?” They’re all similar questions, but each of them refer to important things to consider about deciding whether to pursue therapy.
There’s no simple answer to: “Do I need therapy?” All people experience moods that are “up” sometimes and “down” other times, and we don’t need therapy every time our mood is down. But, if you’re noticing that whatever you’re dealing with — stress, depression, anxiety, worry, anger, mood swings, or any other mental health issue — is impacting your life in a negative way, then it could be helpful to begin psychotherapy.
Why do people start therapy?
Challenges in your life can be very different – it can mean emotional upset that won’t go away, or it can mean that a relationship conflict has you distressed and confused about what to do next. If something is affecting your life negatively in a major way, it means that it’s causing some kind of problem in some major area(s) of your life. It can mean having conflicts in relationships with family or friends, not being able to get work done, or not being able to relax or enjoy things that you’ve enjoyed before.
A related way these emotional issues also have negative impact is if they keep happening over and over or if they’re just lasting for a long time. One common example of this is if someone keeps having difficulty getting along with a boss at work. Especially if that happens at more than one job, then it may be helpful to explore that with a therapist. Similar conflicts that occur over and over can also happen in relationships with friends or romantic partners.
Also, if some emotional issue or stressful situation just won’t go away even if it was only a little bothersome at first, it may help to talk to someone about it. When an emotional issue goes on for a long time, it can cause more stress, worry and intense emotions the longer it continues.
Another factor that often leads people to seek therapy is when they’ve tried to cope with the challenge on their own and it doesn’t work or there are mixed results. Sometimes we use self-help books or follow the advice of friends or family (or even Oprah). A lot of the time, these strategies work really well. There are also times where that works well for a while, but it doesn’t get you as far as you want to go. This is when psychotherapy with a licensed professional can help you get to the next level.
Can therapy help me?
Yes. Next question?
Just kidding. Well, I’m not kidding about therapy being able to help you. It most certainly can. I’ve experienced it myself, and I’ve seen people who come to therapy have less depression, anxiety, and anger, and feel better. It also often helps people feel less guilt and shame and to feel more freedom to do what they want and be who they are. People also learn more about themselves and understand what motivates them and how different events and relationships in their lives have affected and continue to affect them.
Finding those benefits does take different people different lengths of time, and they can follow different paths to get there. It also takes some work to get there – it means talking about difficult feelings, experiences, and memories, exploring them, what they mean for you, and figuring out the ways they affect you and maybe possible ways to change how they affect you.
Is therapy right for me?
When people ask this, sometimes they’re thinking: “Therapy is weird. Am I going to have to talk about my ‘inner child’ or other ‘new-age-y’ things?” Some therapists may work that way, but I only do that if it’s the way you talk about it or you bring it up. I generally focus on helping people where they are. One of the most important things that helps psychotherapy to work is the trust built in a therapist’s and client’s working relationship. It’s not a one-way, “I tell you what to do” process. It’s very much a collaborative process where we go on this journey together, so you aren’t alone, and you have someone who is invested in your care and well being. Our goal is to get you feeling better and armed with the tools (i.e. coping strategies) you need, so the relief is long-term, and you’re more empowered to deal with challenges we all face in this life.
Want to learn more?
Choosing to start psychotherapy can be short- or long-term based on what challenges you may be facing. If you’re looking for a skilled psychologist who can help you decode and get a handle on your feelings, experiences and related health symptoms, contact me at 512-627-3583 to set an appointment. The “mind-body connection” is a thing, which is why having a psychologist with a health specialty can be helpful to give you a holistic, well-rounded approach to get you back on track and feeling better.
