13 Reasons Why You Should Consider Therapy

Gone are the days when therapy means you lay on a couch and let out all of your thoughts and emotions while a therapist quietly listens, saying “Um-hm.”

Many people still think therapy is all about digging deep into your past and waiting for that “Aha” moment five years later. You can still receive this type of therapy if you’d like, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

 Therapy has become so interactive and so actionable. In therapy, people can learn to cope with symptoms that have been making life difficult for them. If you are willing to put in the work, it could be so rewarding. 

 Oftentimes, people tell me they have been thinking about seeing a therapist for years, but they haven’t done it for fear of the unknown. All too often, the picture they paint in their mind about what therapy might be like deters them from making the call.

 When mental health affects your daily life and ability to function, therapy may be just what you need. Therapy can help you learn about what you’re feeling and why, and to utilize coping skills to get to a healthier you. Here are thirteen reasons why you should consider therapy.

1. Repetitive Behavior

You’ve come to realize you are repeating the same behaviors that cause you pain over and over again and you do not know how to make it stop. Therapy can help you understand where this behavior may have originated and why. 

2. You May Need Medication

Another thing I often hear people say is that they fear if they see a therapist they will make them take medication. Only a psychiatrist can prescribe medication, not a social worker, mental health counselor or even a psychologist.

More importantly, it is completely up to you to decide if you would like to try medication for persistent mental health issues. Research shows the benefits of therapy last longer than medication alone.

However, medication can reduce symptoms and prevent relapses of a mental health disorder, especially a potentially life-threatening one such as severe depression. 

3. Fear Therapist Will Find Something Wrong

People often tell me that they are afraid of being told that something is wrong with them by a therapist. But that may not be a bad thing. Hopefully, they wouldn’t say it that way. 

If a therapist can pinpoint a diagnosis, this could be the beginning of identifying and resolving mental health issues that you assumed would never go away. Perhaps a diagnosis isn’t so terrible if it helps you relieve your pain?

4. You May Be Suffering More Than You Realize 

Many times when a person is suffering from mental health issues they do not seek help because they are in denial or feeling too hopeless to do something that could help them. 

19.1% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2018 (47.6 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults. 

5. Major Life Transitions

Maybe you’ve divorced recently, moved, gotten a new job? All of these things and many more can be overwhelming and stressful, to say the least.

A therapist can help you organize your thoughts and, more importantly, your life during major life changes so you can function more calmly and productively.

6. You Could Learn Skills To Take With You For Life

Therapy doesn’t have to take forever, but it can provide skills to use for the rest of your life. It is about learning to cope and regulate your emotions in a way that makes your moods more predictable.

Therefore, it could make you a more relaxed and happier you!

7. You Could Be A Role Model

You could show others suffering from chronic stress that there is a way out, you could be that guy! Once people see the positive changes you have made in your life, maybe they will want to improve themselves by seeing a therapist. 

8. It’s All About You Baby!

You’re in therapy to focus completely on you. You get to talk all about yourself without having to reciprocate in the conversation. There’s something so freeing about this! The focus is completely on you and whatever thoughts you wish to say out loud.

They may offer some very valuable insights as to what makes you, well you. You can learn how to modify your thoughts and behaviors to be your best you.

9. Self-exploration 

You get to explore areas of yourself or your life that you are struggling with. Once you get comfortable and realize you’re in a safe place with an unbiased opinion, you have so much room to explore you. This experience could lead to so many mini breakthroughs in which you get to know yourself better. 

10. Confidentiality 

You have the opportunity to open up about your thoughts and feelings, the good, the bad, and the ugly in a confidential environment. You can say almost anything, except wanting to harm yourself or others, and know your secret will be safe.

There’s no need to be concerned about your friend telling your sister you were jealous of her wedding and want to find a man. Let it out with a therapist who doesn’t know your friend Jen! You can discover some eye-opening things about yourself when you have this kind of verbal freedom. 

11. You Are Worried About Your Safety 

Suicide or self-harm could be preventable with treatment by a licensed professional and/or medication. If you’re thinking of hurting yourself immediately, seek help right away through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the Crisis Text Line.

This is the scariest place to be and you can get out of this safely. Try not to question if it will work. Just take a chance and make the call. Let the therapist guide you through the rest.

12. You’re Abusing Substances 

If you’re relying on drugs and/or alcohol as a way to deal with what’s going on in your life, it’s time to learn healthier coping skills. Substance abuse can feel like an endless cycle, but there is evidenced-based treatment and more help today to end the cycle than ever before.  

13. You’re Having Relationship Problems

Relationships aren’t always easy. Sometimes you can feel so stuck that getting through your issues can feel impossible. If you’re with a partner, therapy can help the two of you explore better ways to communicate.

You could also let go of anger, hurt or resentment and possibly enjoy each other the way you used to when your relationship was less strained. Working with a therapist can give you the confidence to look at the relationship for what it is and decide about future action.

As in all therapy, success comes down to your willingness and determination to make a change.

If you do not feel helped or motivated initially, don’t let that deter you. Trust the process, and trust yourself. The benefits of life skills you can get in therapy will last for years if you work hard outside of therapy.