Have you been asking yourself these questions?
Do I need therapy?
Why do people see a therapist?
What are the signs to look out for to be sure you need to see a therapist?
Maybe you’ve been feeling disconnected from work, school, or your relationship with family and friends. You may even be an immigrant, finding it difficult to cope with the change in environment, balancing time zones, and building quality relationships that won’t drain you mentally.
Or you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately and need a safe space to express yourself, but you’re still thinking about whether therapy is the right way to go. This blog post is for you.
As a psychotherapist who has been in therapy herself, I’ll be delving into common myths about therapy, signs you need a therapist, what to expect in your first therapy session, and how beneficial therapy could be to your overall health & well-being.
Common Myths About Therapy
Many people have been sabotaged into thinking they don’t need therapy. Maybe you’ve also been told to “keep your emotions private so you don’t appear weak”. But what if I told you therapy is for any and everyone, regardless of their financial situation, ethnicity, race, gender, or beliefs? So, let’s debunk some common myths together:
Myth #1: Therapy is a sign you aren’t strong enough. It means you’re a failure.
The truth is that seeking therapy is a courageous step; it doesn’t make you a failure. It’s a way to show yourself compassion and love because you truly deserve peace. You also need to know that strong people seek therapy, too, so you’re not alone.
Myth #2: Therapy is only for those with serious mental health challenges.
This isn’t true. Many people are going through major life stressors like family issues, academic struggles, etc, which can pose a threat to their mental health. This is why therapy is needed to help you better understand how to cope with the normal stressors of life and improve your emotional well-being.
Myth #3: I can get the same advice I need in therapy from a family member or friend.
It’s okay to seek solace from a loved one, especially family and friends, when going through some mental challenges. However, with a trained and licensed therapist, you will have the added benefit of years of experience in helping individuals navigate various mental health struggles and equip them with tools and coping skills to stay mentally resilient. Plus, you don’t have to worry about “burdening them”, like we often feel in a personal relationship.
Myth #4: Therapy is just talking.
While conversations are a key part of the therapy process, what happens in the therapy room goes beyond that. In therapy, you learn more about coping tools, processing unresolved pain, practising emotional regulation, gaining self-awareness, and working towards transformation.
Signs You Need Therapy
Here are some common signs that you need to seek the help of a therapist:
You feel constantly anxious/overwhelmed
Every day stress can be a normal part of life. But when it becomes overwhelming and you get anxious frequently, and relaxation seems impossible, then you should seek the help of a therapist.
You’ve lost interest in things you used to enjoy
The clinical term for this feeling is anhedonia. It’s a feeling of emotional numbness to what you once found interesting. This can be a sign of burnout or depression. Seeking help early will help you get to the bottom of what you’re experiencing.
You feel hopeless and stuck in negative thought patterns
If you find yourself constantly in the pool of negative thoughts and can’t seem to see anything good in what you do, please don’t hesitate to seek help. The longer you wait, the more detrimental it is to your mental health.
Withdrawing from your close circle
If you’ve been struggling to maintain a healthy relationship with your family, friends, or colleagues and prefer to stay alone more often (and if this is unlike you), therapy might help you improve your interpersonal relationships because no one can do life alone.
Your sleep routine is disturbed
Quality sleep is of utmost importance for your health as it keeps you more active and productive. However, if you find yourself sleeping more or less than usual, something may be wrong. Lack of quality sleep can negatively impact your mental health, as well as physical health- you can start having frequent headaches, fatigue, or feeling a lack of focus.
You keep pretending everything’s fine
If you wear a smile always just to hide your inner struggles when you’re really going through a lot within, this might be the right time for you to seek therapy.
Some other signs to look out for include:
- You struggle to regulate your emotions.
- You eat more or less than usual.
- You’re persistently thinking of harming yourself.
- You’ve experienced trauma.
If these signs are familiar to you or someone close to you, and you’re currently seeking therapy virtually in Ontario, don’t hesitate to get started now.
What Actually Happens In The First Session?
You may be wondering what to expect in your first therapy session. Here’s a snippet of what it’s like.
An Introduction
Your first session is a time for you and your therapist to get to know each other better. They would go over the consent form, discuss what can be expected, answer any questions to clarify billing or scheduling, and focus on establishing a warm/welcoming atmosphere.
Sharing Your Story
You’ll slowly start to share your story with your therapist- at a pace that is comfortable for you. Discuss why you decided to seek therapy – maybe it’s due to burnout, anxiety, sleep difficulty, or you just need someone to talk to. Opening up in the first session may not be easy, but as you warm up, you’ll be able to share more about what’s bothering you with your therapist.
Goal Setting
Setting goals is an important aspect of therapy because it’s what guides the treatment.. Together (you and your therapist) will identify what you hope to get from therapy and note those down.
It could be that you want to
- Feel less anxious.
- Build your self-esteem.
- Sleep better.
- Manage your emotions better.
- Improve relationships.
Trying to imagine how you would like life to be after therapy helps to envision your goals.
Understanding Your Background
Your therapist will ask you various questions about your life, health, habits, past and current relationships, and experiences to better understand who you are and the factors that might be affecting your emotional/mental well-being.
The goal of the first session is to ensure you feel heard, understood, and supported.
How Therapy Helps You Feel Grounded Again
The benefits of seeking therapy cannot be overemphasized. Effective therapy with an experienced/licensed therapist can improve your daily living – helping you stay more grounded: emotionally, socially, physically, and mentally.
- Therapy equips you with the coping skills/mechanisms to stay mentally resilient.
- It also helps you break unhealthy and negative thought patterns.
- Therapy provides you a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental space to express how you truly feel, making you feel heard, loved, and supported.
- Through therapy, you gain more knowledge about who you are and how to be aware of your thought patterns, feelings, and behaviour.
- Therapy also helps build emotional awareness, improve your self-esteem and trust.
If you’ve been wondering when to seek therapy or what to expect in your therapy session, this is your nudge to start. You’ve gotten the knowledge you need on why you should go for therapy, so don’t stall any longer. Book a free consultation to see if therapy feels right for you.
Start your journey to feeling grounded again today.
