6 Intriguing Benefits of Therapy You Might Not Know
Most people know that therapy can be helpful for people struggling with mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. Moreover, people also tend to understand the therapeutic advantages for circumstances related to trauma, grief and loss, or marital problems.
But the benefits of therapy extend beyond specific situations or diagnoses. Therapy isn’t just about “fixing” certain problems or solving just one goal. Whether it’s your first or tenth time entering therapy, there are many reasons to consider talking to a professional. Let’s get into some of them.
Improved Relationships
Because we are social creatures, we are a product of the relationships we share with others. And while our loved ones can bring out the best of us, the opposite is also true. Tension, poor communication, and a lack of trust can result in you feeling seriously stressed.
Therapy can help you understand your relationships better. You can learn more about your own areas for improvement (i.e. weak boundaries, inefficient communication) and practice healthier ways of connecting with loved ones. Therapy can also help with relationship skills related to:
- Strengthening intimacy
- Parenting and co-parenting needs
- Premarital and marital issues
- Family dynamics
Enhanced Coping Skills
How do you take care of yourself when you’re sad or anxious? What kind of self-care do you engage in regularly? Do you tend to self-medicate your emotions to avoid dealing with them altogether?
Coping skills are an integral part of healthy self-esteem. However, due to busy and demanding schedules, many people don’t take care of themselves. As a result, they are at risk of running themselves too thin and burning out. This can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
In therapy, you will learn healthy ways to manage your emotions. You will learn how to identify them and how to intervene when they feel overpowering.
Increased Resilience
Therapy is all about strengthening your ability to withstand discomfort. Life will throw all sorts of curveballs in your path. While you shouldn’t live fearing these curveballs, you should feel prepared for them to happen.
Building resilience is crucial for your self-esteem. Likewise, the more you can tolerate those difficult moments, the more confident and empowered you will feel when faced with future distress. Therapy can help you shift your perspective, identify healthy ways to cope, and increase your sense of acceptance.
Sense of Support
Do you feel alone with your feelings? Do you feel like sharing your experiences might burden others? Have you faced rejection from people in the past?
Therapists are not friends or family members, but your relationship with your therapist will represent a secure and collaborative relationship. No matter your struggles, your therapist has your back. This unconditional positive regard allows you to feel supported and safe while you explore some of your deepest feelings.
You don’t have to worry about offending or bothering your therapist. You don’t have to filter what you say or don’t say. Therapy is your time, and it’s all about you feeling heard and understood.
Decisiveness
Do you feel torn on making a significant life decision like relocating, starting a new job, or ending an important relationship? Do you tend to avoid taking risks or “freeze” whenever you need to make a choice because you want someone else to make it for you?
Being able to make decisions confidently is an essential part of your emotional well-being. However, if this is an area of struggle, it can feel challenging to make a new commitment.
Therapy can help you weigh the pros and cons of decisions. Bouncing your concerns with someone else- while receiving helpful feedback- can help you make the best choice for your well-being. It can also help instill confidence for you to make crucial decisions moving forward.
Deepened Self-Awareness
No matter why you initially start therapy, the process will help enhance your insight and self-awareness. You will learn more about who you are, why you do what you do, and how you developed particular patterns and behaviors.
Self-awareness can be painful, but it’s an integral part of growth. It allows you to understand yourself in new ways, which can allow you to understand other people and the world around you. The more you understand yourself and your surroundings, the more you can change problematic behaviors.
Final Thoughts On The Benefits Of Therapy
Whether you are seeking individual or group therapy, there are numerous benefits of therapy. Some of these advantages are obvious, but others may be more subtle.
Are you on the fence in deciding if therapy is right for you? Let’s talk. Contact Willow Counseling today to schedule your free consultation.
Willow Counseling, PLLC, Nashville, TN
Willow Counseling, PLLC exists to provide quality trauma-informed mental health counseling to the Nashville community, recognizing the interconnectedness of our emotional, spiritual and physical selves. We work together to alleviate symptoms, learn better coping skills, relieve burdens, remove the pain of trauma, and so much more. However, our greatest desire is for you to know what it means to feel purpose and joy again and to recognize the strength and worth you have to offer the world.
