Four Reasons People Go To Therapy (that have nothing to do with a mental health diagnosis)
Our society has come a long way in overcoming the stigma around therapy and mental health struggles. More and more people are normalizing seeing a therapist to work on themselves and live a better quality life. Seeing a therapist does not mean there is something wrong with you, and I believe therapy is something that everyone can benefit from at some point in their life. Existing in this world is hard - we experience grief, loss, tragedy, trauma, loneliness, existential dread, and have to navigate change and transitions throughout our lives.
If you’ve been wondering if your problems are “too small” for therapy — I promise you they are not. Therapy is a space where people can talk through anything and everything. While many people go to therapy to treat symptoms of a mental health diagnosis, you do not have to have a mental health diagnosis to benefit from therapy. Having a therapist should not be reserved for people who are treating clinical problems. Therapy can be beneficial for anyone navigating life, or wants to become a more evolved & healthier version of themselves.
Here are some of the few reasons people go to therapy (that have nothing to do with treating a mental health diagnosis).
Therapy can help you develop healthier relationships
Whether you’re experiencing challenges in romantic relationships, navigating the dating scene, friendships, or family drama, therapy can help. We learn how to be in relationships by what was modeled to us growing up, so if what we witnessed or experienced was unhealthy, we are likely going to re-enact those relationship dynamics (often unconsciously). For example, in my family growing up, when we had any sort of conflict, it would be swept under the rug and not really talked about. I learned how to be passive aggressive by what I saw and experienced as a child and teenager. As an adult, I started to recognize the problems I had in my relationships because of my inability to communicate effectively. I had to work hard to unlearn my passive aggressive communication style. Learning how to be assertive was definitely challenging and uncomfortable, but it has played a major role in my confidence as an adult today (and especially important as a therapist).
By learning how to communicate assertively and express our needs and boundaries in relationships, we become healthier in our relationships with others and within ourselves.
Therapy is also helpful for understanding your relationship patterns (based on earlier family/relationship dynamics) so that you can make conscious decisions about your interpersonal relationships moving forward. Understanding your attachment style and why you are drawn to a certain type of person, as well as the feelings that someone might elicit in you, can be critical to choosing healthier partners or friendships in the present & future.
2. Therapy can support you in navigating life transitions
(think quarter/mid-life crisis, moving to a new city, going through a break up, questioning your career path, etc.)
As I said before, being a human in this world can be really hard sometimes. We will all experience periods of transition and change. We will all inevitably carry wounds from the past in some way. Therapy is especially helpful when navigating change or life transitions that can bring up a range of emotions, or activate painful experiences and emotions from the past. Humans are naturally resistant to change (even if it’s positive) because it is inherently disruptive. It’s not uncommon to question the choices you’ve made, to wonder “what if”, or to feel anxious and doubtful when you’re about to take a leap with something new. Change can definitely be exciting, but it can also be anxiety provoking! Having a therapist during this time can help with perspective shifts, managing stress, and better understanding yourself and what you need to support you through changes.
3. Therapy can help you build confidence and have healthier self-esteem
What do happy people have in common? They love themselves. They treat themselves with kindness, respect, and compassion. One of the biggest gains from therapy is the process of self-discovery — gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and learning how to love and support yourself. Self-discovery is a life-long process, because we are not meant to stay the same. If we are willing to do our personal work, we will re-discover ourselves again and again as life requires new versions of ourselves to emerge through different chapters.
When you have healthy self-esteem and a healthy relationship with yourself, you are setting the foundation for your life. Your standards become higher, you no longer tolerate people who treat you like crap (because you know your worth), and you begin to attract situations and things that are in line with how you want to feel. It takes confidence to walk away from that which is not aligned with you.
Therapy can change the way you think about yourself, and help you through the fulfilling process of self-discovery. When you begin to transform your inner-world, you create a new foundation for your outer-world.
4. Therapy can help strengthen your resiliency
When you consistently dedicate time to better yourself and work towards your personal growth, you are strengthening your resiliency. The most resilient people I know are not immune to suffering, but rather have the tools and support system in place to manage really challenging experiences. For many people, their support system includes a therapist. Therapy challenges you to become the healthiest version of yourself, and by doing this you begin to have healthier relationships, make healthier choices, adopt new habits, feel more confident in decision making, etc.
When you are confident in who you are and understand what it takes for you to live a healthy, fulfilled life, you strengthen your resiliency to face challenges or pain when it comes your way. You have an understanding of what is within your control, and a greater tolerance for accepting what is outside of your control.
The goal is not to be perfect — no such thing exists. We have one shot at life, so why not make the most of it and do the best we can with what we have?
Online Therapy Services in Houston and throughout Texas
If you are looking for a therapist, feel free to explore my website to see if we might be a good fit to work together. My approach is trauma-informed, person-centered, and grounded in humanistic and existential philosophy. I work with young professional women navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, and life transitions.
Please note: this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for mental health therapy.
