There is a lot of mystery that seems to remain around therapy sessions including who should be going and what happens when you're there. We want to help break down these walls to make it easier for anyone who needs help to get help. So, we're answering some of the commonly asked questions about therapy.
Who can benefit from therapy or counseling?
Anyone can benefit from working with a therapist. Stigma leads people to think that if you go to therapy, you must have a serious problem or mental health disorder. And while it's true that therapists help those with diagnosable disorders, they also help:
People struggling with everyday stress
Individuals having a hard time with relationships
People who just don't feel like themselves
Individuals struggling with life transitions
Grieving people
New parents adjusting to life with a child
Couples that want to build a healthy and strong relationship
There are therapists who work with people experiencing all kinds of challenges in any area of mental and emotional wellness. You can have a mental health disorder. You don't have to have a mental health disorder. Or you can feel like you're struggling a lot or like you're just a little off.
There are so many ways a therapist and counseling can help you to help you create meaningful change in your life.
How therapy sessions can benefit an individual
There are so many ways that working with a therapist can help you. But the specifics of it will vary based on the reason(s) you've decided to do therapy.
Here are some examples of the benefits therapy sessions can provide:
Learning strategies you can use in your daily life to overcome fear, stress, and anxiety.
Putting boundaries in place to protect yourself in an emotionally unhealthy relationship.
Improved communication skills that improve your marriage.
Feeling more like yourself and confident in who you are.
Starting to feel better and not so disappointed about the unexpected c-section you had instead of feeling like your body failed you.
Feeling supported during a difficult life transition.
Having your feelings validated.
Discovering answers and solutions for obstacles that are holding you back.
These are just a few examples of the benefits that working with a counselor can provide. The exact benefits that you'll experience will depend on your situation and goals.
Important things to know about working with a therapist
You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. There is this misconception out there that therapists are leading the conversations and that's just not true. A therapist won't force you to talk about something you don't want to talk about. You're the one leading the therapy sessions. It's about you and helping you achieve the goals you have for therapy.
You may be surprised at how easy it is to talk to a "stranger". It's normal to be worried about sharing personal details of your life with someone you've never met before. But many people find once they get started that it's actually easier than talking with people they know personally.
You can talk about anything. Therapy is all about helping you work through what you need to. Feel free to share whatever it is that is on your mind. If you're embarrassed to share it simply let your therapist know that you're feeling like that. They can help you process your feelings around the situation.
You need to give it more than one session. When facing difficult situations and emotions in life, it's normal to want quick answers and solutions to help you feel better instantly. But therapy isn't like using a magic wand as much as we wish it could be. It can take a little time to start to really experience the difference. While you'll probably end each session feeling like you've gained a little something, you have to give it a chance to work. And prescription medication for mental health is the same way.
It helps to commit to taking action. You may end your therapy session with some homework to do or strategies to try in between your sessions. To experience the full benefit of therapy, you need to try these things.
How many therapy sessions will I need?
This is a common question but unfortunately, it's not one we can answer for you through a simple blog post. Each person and situation is unique. That means we don't have a set number of sessions we move you through at a certain pace.
Your therapist will work with you to personalize a treatment plan that meets your unique needs.
Therapy is for ANYONE
If you walk away with just one thing from reading this, we hope it's the fact that therapy is for everyone and anyone. If you feel that you're struggling mentally or emotionally in any way, big or small, you may benefit from working with a therapist.
At The NEST Clinic in Stillwater, we have therapists with many different areas of expertise and specialties. We'd love to help you connect with the right therapist for you.