Breaking the Stigma of Therapy: It Can Be Good For ANYONE

Who goes to therapy?

As a psychologist, I have had the unique opportunity to work with clients in a variety of contexts and circumstances. People sometimes come to therapy seeking out answers about “why” they are feeling a certain way. They sometimes come wanting help to identify a new way of interacting with the world or develop new coping skills. Sometimes, they just want a safe, comfortable place where they can share their inner thoughts without fear of judgment from friends or family. No matter the reason, therapy is often helpful. 

The number of Americans seeking mental health continue to rise. Of the 40.2 million Americans who received mental health care in 2019, 11.2% were men and 20.8% were women. That number has increased by 17 million adults since 2002. 

Research-focused online news forum Study Finds cited a 2020 OnePoll survey showing one in six Americans sought out therapy for the first time. And all indications point to a significant growth in the past 1-1/2 years due to the uncertainties during the pandemic.

So, who does psychotherapy help exactly?

It’s not as simple as men or women who can benefit from therapy, and people are much more than simple statistics. Therapy helps those with difficulties in thoughts and emotions on all levels of the spectrum:

·      The would-be mom who has trouble conceiving to the young college student struggling with anxiety

·      The dad with bipolar disorder to the grief-stricken spouse whose loved one recently passed

·      The burned out employee to the person with addiction

·      The person the LGBTQ+ community who does not have family support to the person with low self-esteem

·      The man who can’t seem to shake his depression to the overwhelmed woman who has young children and is caring for her elderly parents

All of these situations that have been highlighted show people who struggle at some point in their lives. Some might have issues at a younger age, while others don’t recognize a need until later in life when they’re juggling multiple situations. Identifying when you need help or perhaps suggesting therapy to someone you know is struggling can be an important step regardless of your age or phase of life.

Therapists

Just like the people who entrust their care to therapists, therapists are real people too! As we shared last month, even therapists at Hello Mental Health have sought care from therapists at various points. Therapists are not immune to depression and anxiety, just as physicians aren’t immune to the flu or other physical health concerns. Some therapists may want to work through their own family stressors or gain support around their day-to-day functioning. And, as a matter of fact, therapy is recommended for therapists as an effective way to combat what is known as compassion fatigue.

First Responders

People who work in fields that require them to be at their personal best when others are going through the worst moments in their lives are truly selfless. Firefighters, combat veterans, nurses, and others may benefit from therapy as they navigate the stress of their careers. They may experience compassion fatigue as well. First responders are in careers that are prone to desensitizing them as they are seeing trauma day in and day out. They may find that this takes a toll on their well-being, including increased irritability, feeling a sense of hopelessness or low self-esteem, or developing physical symptoms like upset stomachs and headaches. 

Having a self-care regimen that includes mental health checks is very helpful to stop compassion fatigue from building in the first place so they can stay productive in their amazing professional fields — therapists included!

Benefits for those who receive therapy

Therapy’s benefits differ for each person who seeks it. Clients may be looking for different outcomes. It is my role to help clients identify attainable goals and support them as they work toward those goals. Generally speaking by better understanding a problem and your feelings surrounding it, your therapist can help you in many ways to make positive changes, such as:

·      Work up a plan to improve your mindset by setting goals and establishing a method to reach them

·      Learn new behaviors that can shape how you approach situations that once frightened you or made you act out in fear and resentment

·      Anticipate challenging situations and understand your reactions to them earlier 

·      Work through problem-solving methods that have not proven helpful in the past and practice new ones that significantly improve your quality of life

If you are ready to work on your mental health with the help of great therapists, contact us to learn more.