The Transformative Power of Therapy: How It Can Be Beneficial for Everyone
Table of content:
Introduction
Within the past few years, it has become more socially acceptable to talk about one’s experiences with therapy as a form of mental health treatment. As we have become more open about discussing mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma, it is only natural that we would also increase conversation surrounding therapy, as it is one of the best ways to address mental health concerns. There are various types of therapy—individual, couples, family, and group—to meet best the needs of the person seeking treatment. One study published by the National Library of Medicine found that therapy is markedly beneficial for those looking to treat anxiety, depression, and other types of psychological distress, marked through decreased symptoms after consistent therapeutic intervention. This post explores the various ways therapy can benefit one’s mental health and overall well-being.
Understanding Therapy
One of the primary goals of therapy is to provide a safe space for the individual to explore their mental health through conversation with a trusted professional. There are many different modalities of therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). You may also encounter services that are centered around social or political identities, such as BIPOC Therapy or LGBTQ+ Therapy. There are also therapy services that cater to people experiencing specific stressors, such as trauma-informed therapy.
One of the most important aspects of therapy is the relationship between the client and the therapist. Often, the first few sessions are dedicated to building rapport. The therapist must earn the client’s trust for therapy to be effective. Therefore, it is important to choose a therapist whose style meets your wants and needs.
Mental Health Benefits of Therapy
Managing Anxiety and Depression
Therapy is meant to help support individuals with challenging mental health symptoms. For example, therapists often help clients reframe or challenge negative thought patterns. In a session, a client may bring up distress regarding repeating toxic familial patterns because they raised their voice to their child. The therapist may help the client reframe this by encouraging the client to highlight their ability to recognize their poor behavior and their effort to be the best possible parent, which already shows a great deal of progress compared to past familial habits. From there, the therapist may teach the client some anger management tactics to help them avoid repeating this kind of encounter in the future. They may also talk through ways to issue an apology to their child to help showcase their efforts to become a better parent.
Coping with Stress
Therapists often work with clients to help manage stress. One common strategy used by therapists across various modalities is the idea of mindfulness. This is a Buddhist practice that asks an individual to become centered in the current moment, rather than stressing about the past or future. For example, if a client was struggling with an onslaught of fast-paced thoughts, to the point where they felt like they were missing out on quality family time, the therapist may suggest practicing mindfulness during meals with family members by slowing down and drawing attention to the sensations of taste, smell, touch, sound, and sight.
Addressing Trauma
For many people, therapy is a helpful way to process and heal from traumatic experiences. A strong therapeutic relationship will allow a client to feel truly safe and comfortable sharing in therapy, even if they have never discussed these traumas before. Therapists are here to work through a variety of traumas with their clients, including phobias, abuse, bullying, neglect, discrimination, and many other traumatic experiences. Through conversation, the therapist can help the client work through the adverse impacts of their trauma, allowing the client to feel more resilient than before.
Personal Growth and Self-Discovery
Improving Self-Esteem and Confidence
Through therapy, you are likely to gain insight into yourself, which can often help improve levels of self-compassion. For example, you may begin to recognize that certain behaviors you were once ashamed of are symptoms of anxiety. This may help you go from feeling like there is something “wrong” with you to understanding that you need certain things to feel safe, given the amount of anxiety you’re facing. Additionally, learning new ways to manage your mental health symptoms will likely help you feel strong. Learning that you are capable of bringing positive changes into your life is very valuable.
Setting and Achieving Goals
Therapists often prompt clients to set treatment goals. This helps ensure that both the therapist and the client are on the same page about what the client wants to take away from the therapeutic process. By setting goals, you gain insight into the things that feel especially important in your life. Therapists will offer support in how to meet those goals, often by helping you see what could be done differently and offering a source of accountability. This kind of encouragement can help you recognize and overcome harmful patterns.
Improving Relationships
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is a tool many couples use to improve their connection. Couples seek out counseling to improve communication, conflict resolution, and overall relationship strength. Trust, intimacy, and financial stress may be common issues that are explored within therapy. For many couples, the objective perspective of a therapist can help them avoid judgment, both for themselves and each other, and focus on new strategies to improve their relationship.
Family Therapy
Family therapy can be a wonderful tool to help families reflect on their dynamics, learn to support one another, and find connections. A family therapist may help families evaluate each person’s role and strategize on ways to problem-solve together. There may also be some conversation surrounding familial values and ways to honor them together. Many family therapists will also address intergenerational patterns (i.e. a father who attempts to parent the same way that his dad did because he respected him so deeply). It is important to draw attention to the benefits and drawbacks of this kind of mentality, and family therapy is a wonderful place to explore that.
Building Social Skills
Therapy can also help teach interpersonal skills. Creating deeper empathy for yourself may help you empathize more deeply with others. Additionally, therapists can help you work through the kinds of challenges that may get in your way when attempting to build friendships, whether that is self-doubt, hotheadedness, or general confusion about social norms. If relationships tend to be a source of stress for you, a therapist may help walk you through some scenarios to help increase your confidence level going forward.
Specific Populations and Therapy
Children and Adolescents
At this age, therapy is likely to focus on addressing developmental issues, school stress, and family conflict. These all tend to be common sources of stress for young people. It can be helpful to have a therapist who is specifically trained to offer support to this age group because many of these challenges are very deeply tied to development. For example, a teenager who feels intense anxiety around developing her identity would benefit from someone who has a deep understanding of the process of identity development in adolescence, as they would offer the most compelling insights.
Elderly Individuals
Older adults may also benefit from more specialized care due to the nature of their life stage. Often, people in this age group are grieving the loss of important connections, such as long-term friends and partners. They may also grieve their younger self as they lose the ability to engage in certain hobbies due to physical decline. The adjustment to this life transition can cause anxiety and depression in some individuals. Therapeutic support may help them feel less alone as they face these challenges.
LGBTQ+ Community
Many people in the queer community may benefit from LGBTQ+ competent therapy. It can be very difficult to try to explain the nuances of your identity to a therapist, and taking the step of engaging with a queer-competent therapist can help eliminate that. This can allow clients to feel safer when discussing topics like coming out, discriminatory experiences, gender dysphoria, and dating dynamics. Being your full, authentic self in therapy is an important step in ensuring quality care experiences.
BIPOC Community
Individuals who identify as BIPOC may benefit from BIPOC therapy. These therapists are trained to help clients process and reflect upon experiences related to cultural or ethnic identity, discrimination, immigration, and acculturation. In this setting, clients can feel safe and supported to share their stories and know they will be seen as they are.
Conclusion
Engaging in therapy can yield numerous benefits, including improved mental health, personal growth, and stronger relationships. There are various types of therapy that may focus on a unique group you are a part of based on dimensions such as age, sexuality, gender identity, or ethnic identity. Finding the therapy that is right for you is a key component of getting the quality care you deserve. At Trust Mental Health, we offer all of these services to help you cultivate a life that feels joyful and full. If therapy sounds like it may be helpful for you, you can book a free fifteen-minute consultation with Trust Mental Health today.
Key Points
Therapy can help cultivate brighter mental health outcomes, resulting in feelings of resilience and personal growth.
Therapy can be a valuable tool to help improve interpersonal relationships, either through couples counseling, family therapy, or individual counseling.
Therapy support can be centered around aspects of one’s identity to help provide the best possible care, depending on the needs of that individual.
FAQs
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Indicators that therapy is working include feeling better able to handle emotions, noticing positive changes in behavior and thought patterns, achieving goals set in therapy, and experiencing improved relationships and overall well-being. Regularly discussing progress with your therapist can also help gauge effectiveness.
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The time it takes to see results from therapy varies depending on the individual and the issues being addressed. Some people may notice improvements in a few sessions, while others may take several months or longer. Consistency and active participation are key factors in the effectiveness of therapy.
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During the first session, the therapist will typically ask about your background, current concerns, and goals for therapy. This session is an opportunity to build rapport, discuss confidentiality, and set the framework for future sessions. It's a time to ask questions and express any concerns you might have.