People tend to assume that it’s obvious when someone should talk to a therapist. If you’re deeply depressed or your marriage is falling apart, your loved ones are likely to suggest counselling. But not everyone who could benefit from therapy is in such dramatic circumstances.
Many of the common life experiences that people go through come with their own emotional difficulties. Seeking input on these struggles from a therapist can give you a bigger perspective on what’s happening in your life. Therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can give you the tools you’re missing to make positive changes in your life.
Who Could Benefit From Therapy?
Mental health is an important part of a happy, functional life, and it deserves the same attention and care as your physical health. You don’t have to be seriously ill before you speak to a doctor, and you can connect with a therapist before you’re in a crisis. Here are some common reasons people seek therapy.
1. Big Life Changes
Even positive changes, such as starting your dream job or becoming a parent, can be emotionally taxing. And of course, difficult transitions, like divorce, come with their own set of difficulties. At these times, people can feel disoriented and overwhelmed.
Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you’re failing to navigate the changes well; it means you’re using a significant tool to help you do your best. Speaking to someone who has an objective perspective helps you to process the changes in your life.
2. Grief
Whether they’ve lost a parent or a pet, people are often surprised by how profound and long-lasting grief can be. Loss is a universal human experience, but that doesn’t mean we’re naturally equipped to deal with it.
Talking about your loss and the storm of feelings that comes along with it can help. Therapists understand the grieving process and can help you walk through it. Just knowing you’re not alone can start you on the road to recovery.
3. Relationship Problems
Couples’ counselling is typically thought of as the last step before a divorce. But even good relationships can be strengthened when partners work together to learn important skills. Addressing hot-button issues, even if they’re small ones, can head off bigger problems. Learning better ways to communicate with each other can help couples stay connected through the years.
Counselling isn’t just for romantic partners, either. Any significant relationship that is struggling can benefit from therapy, whether it’s between a parent and child, siblings, or even friends. If you care about someone and are having conflict with them, it’s worth the time and effort to address the issues between you. With the advent of online therapy, finding a time that works best for you and your partner is easier than before. Read more on what to know about online couples counselling.
4. Substance Use Issues
If you feel uncomfortable or out of control when it comes to how you use alcohol or drugs, therapy can help you sort through those feelings in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. The idea that you may have an issue with substance use can be scary, but a therapist can help you to gain insight into the patterns that are causing you distress, and help you decide what you want to do about them.
5. Anxiety
People who struggle with anxiety often focus on solving the situation that’s triggering their anxious feelings. The problem is that there’s always another challenge ahead, and so the anxiety never completely goes away. Feeling unable to manage these emotions can become a self-feeding cycle that leaves you feeling even more anxious, helpless, and discouraged.
Therapy can teach you ways to manage your anxiety, guiding you to regain control over your responses and the reactions that seem overwhelming.
6. You Just Don’t Feel “Right”
Depression sometimes looks like you’d expect, with persistent feelings of sadness and crying spells. But for some people, it appears very different. The symptoms of depression can also show up as irritability, mood swings, difficulties sleeping, trouble concentrating, or changes in appetite.
It’s important to know that depression doesn’t always have an event that kicks it off. If you don’t feel like you’re functioning as well as you used to, it’s worthwhile to explore what’s going on with a therapist.
7. COVID-19
Many people have lost loved ones, and others are living with the long-term effects that can follow a COVID-19 infection. Jobs have been affected and kids’ education has been impacted. People feel isolated and often angry about what’s happening and how others are responding.
But even if you haven’t experienced these personal losses, everyone’s life has been touched by the pandemic. The heightened feelings of stress and uncertainty take a toll, especially as time wears on.
We will all be processing the events of the pandemic for a long time to come. There’s no reason you should have to do it alone.
8. You Want to Change Persistent Patterns
These can be large issues, such as choosing unhealthy relationships, or smaller ones, such as procrastination. If you recognize that you want to make changes in your life, but you’re frustrated in trying to get there, it’s reasonable to bring in professional support.
A therapist can provide objective insight into your choices and provide practical tools to help you make progress.
9. You Feel Alone
Many people feel as though they don’t fit in with the people around them, even friends and family. They may struggle to communicate their emotions, or they might think that their thoughts are too different for others to understand. They may also not feel as if they are in a situation of someone who could benefit from therapy.
Feeling different from other people is a surprisingly common emotion, but it can cause intense loneliness. Therapy can help you challenge assumptions that are isolating you, and help you learn how to form genuine connections.
Conclusion – Who Could Benefit From Therapy?
Therapy is an important tool when you’re struggling or in the midst of a crisis. But working with a therapist can do more than help you weather hard times; it can also help you to thrive. If you’re struggling with one of the above situations or need emotional support in any way, please contact us today.