Therapy Isn’t For You If…

Do like feeling anxious, depressed, stressed? Are all of your relationships great and without any problems? Do prioritize self-care like a champ? No problems setting healthy boundaries and making and/or declining requests? So, you’ve got more coping skills than you need. Oh, you’re exactly where you want to be in life. You have zero complaints. You like and love yourself all the time. Then, therapy is not for you.

Ok, Seriously

When it comes to seeking help, no problem is too big or too small. It’s different from just talking to a friend because therapists are educated to utilize and teach scientifically validated techniques to help you live a healthier and more content life. Psychologists are trained to be careful and unbiased listeners. Through the process of therapy, you will gain improved understanding of your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors, learn skills to cope with your difficulties, and obtain guidance. Psychotherapy an interactive process and depending on the therapists’ orientation (a fancy term for the way the therapist understands and treats your problems), both you and the therapist will be talking to some extent. For many people, just having a place to share their feelings openly, without fear of judgment, is helpful.

But You Don’t Have A Mental Illness

All of us face struggles at some point in our lives. Psychotherapy isn’t just for those who are experiencing a mental illness. It can be helpful for anyone who is experiencing conflict with a loved one, difficulties making an important life decision, or problems setting boundaries with others. Many of my patients have difficulties managing stress and prioritizing self-care. Some people want a better understanding of why they do the things they do. Therapy can help with all of these problems and more.

The Two Important Questions

Two questions to ask yourself when considering whether you might benefit from therapy:

• Is the problem or situation causing me distress?
• Is the problem or situation interfering with some aspect of my functioning (i.e., sleep, appetite, mood, etc.)?     

In summary, I do believe that everyone could benefit from therapy. We all have room to improve our insight (our understanding of ourselves) and to grow. It’s important to remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a form of self-care and self-love.

Author: Dr. Beverly Pedroche