The Age-Old Question, Is Therapy Really Worth It?
Going to therapy is extremely beneficial for several reasons as it can provide individuals with a safe and non-judgemental space for self-exploration, healing, and personal development. Within this confidential and supportive environment, individuals can freely express their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment.
Guided by a skilled clinician, individuals gain valuable insights into their behaviours, patterns, and underlying issues, fostering heightened self-awareness. Therapy equips individuals with effective coping strategies and tools to adeptly manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
It functions as a proactive investment in mental well-being, addressing and preventing issues before they escalate. The therapeutic journey often results in enhanced communication skills, improved relationships, and a more profound self-understanding.
Ultimately, therapy empowers individuals to navigate life’s complexities, surmount obstacles, and nurture a more gratifying and resilient existence. Its benefits extend beyond the treatment period, contributing to long-term emotional well-being and an enriched quality of life.
As there is large diversity in humans, there are numerous modalities designed to meet the unique needs of individuals, tackling a broad range of challenges. The inherent differences among people require a variety of therapeutic methods, each carefully crafted to address diverse personalities and issues.
This array of therapeutic modalities guarantees that individuals have access to interventions that are precisely tailored to their particular circumstances, facilitating a more individualised and successful journey towards resolution and personal development.
Some examples of these different therapy modalities are below:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
EMDR, and so on.
The Importance of a Good Clinician
Clinicians play a crucial role in helping individuals learn effective coping skills to navigate life’s challenges. Coping skills are strategies and techniques that individuals can employ to manage stress, emotions and difficult situations.
The therapist will work collaboratively with clients to identify and develop coping mechanisms that are tailored to the individual’s unique needs. In sessions, therapists will create a safe and supportive space for clients to explore and understand their emotions, behaviours and reactions.
Therapy can also positively impact the relationships in your life as gaining a fresh perspective and evaluating whether they align with your aspirations can help you see how they contribute to your overall fulfilment. In fact, gaining a fresh perspective on the significant relationships in your life can prove beneficial. Evaluate whether your partner aligns with your aspirations and contributes to your overall fulfilment. Clinicians will offer the necessary support and valuablie insights for making constructive changes, thereby enhancing positivity within your relationships. Nurturing fulfilling connections is crucial for a thriving long-term future, as meaningful relationships with loved ones and skilfully navigating interactions with others is a significant part of being a human.
Therapy can also help in other aspects of life such as work; when you feel better, you do better. Productivity at work is closely tied to your overall well-being. Therapy’s significance extends beyond mental health, influencing various aspects of your life and, notably, your work performance. Addressing specific areas through therapy can enhance your overall productivity. Research suggests a direct correlation between seeking mental health assistance and a decrease in missed work, underscoring the positive impact therapy can have on professional effectiveness.
So, how does therapy contribute to a deeper sense of happiness?
Engaging in discussions about your past, present, and future with a therapist can lead to enhanced self-understanding. While achieving self-understanding doesn’t automatically guarantee self-acceptance, it serves as the initial step toward authentically embracing your core identity.
A closely related concept is self-compassion, which becomes increasingly important. Developing greater self-compassion equips you to navigate life’s inevitable challenges without becoming entangled in a web of negativity.
Working on self-compassion can sometimes feel awkward, thus, it is important to have a good therapeutic connection between you (the client) and the therapist.
This will play a crucial role in determining the success of treatment outcomes. It helps to form a foundation of trust, fosters collaboration, and promotes realistic expectations, empowering clients to attain their therapy objectives.
Throughout the treatment process, it is important for both therapists and clients to maintain a realistic perspective on what can be accomplished and the duration of the process.
Though therapy can be hugely beneficial to individuals, it does not come without its own set of challenges. Therapy is a process that takes work and time. Typically, you would see a clinician weekly and it can take weeks or even months before your clinician feels as if you can start spacing out sessions (ie every other week, etc). It is more than ‘just talking’ and can be sometimes uncomfortable and/or painful, which is why it is useful to set goals in therapy. Even though it may get challenging at times, it is crucial to remember that going to therapy is normal. It is also important to remember that you do not have to be going through a crisis, to seek therapy.
As TalkSpace therapist Kate Rosenblatt said
“ You don’t have to wait for a crisis moment in your life to see a therapist. You don’t have to live in suffering. You can see a therapist when things are going really well in your life, or when you’re about to go through a big life transition.”
Is this within my budget?
Will it be effective for me?
Is the investment worthwhile?
These are common inquiries individuals often ponder before starting therapy. In our experience, numerous clients enter therapy with apprehension about the unknown, only to emerge later expressing that it’s the most impactful choice they’ve ever made, significantly enhancing their mental well-being and overall quality of life.
It is difficult to put a monetary value on what you’ll gain from going to therapy, and most importantly, happiness and living a good life, does not have a price.
Written and Reviewed by Dounia Crivelli, Associate Psychologist at Us Therapy, in December 2023
