October can be an exciting month full of cider mills, Halloween costumes, homecoming, and falling leaves. In October we also celebrate World Mental Health Day (on October 10), a day dedicated to raising awareness of what mental health truly is and how we can stay mentally and emotionally healthy. One of the best ways to prioritize your mental health is to work with a licensed therapist. There are so many reasons why therapy can help; in fact, your therapist may very well have a therapist of their own!
Therapy is not only a valuable tool during a crisis–a therapist can support you through it all. Mental health IS health. Just like we go to our primary care doctors, dentists, gynecologists, and other specialists, we can continue to have mental health check-ups with a licensed mental health provider.
I became a therapist in part because I had seen firsthand the impact therapy can make on someone’s well-being through my therapy sessions.
Is therapy really for me?
There are many reasons why therapy can help you or a loved one. One of the main roles of therapists is to treat those with mental illnesses ranging from the more common disorders (such as anxiety and depression) to rare diagnoses (such as schizophrenia). However, this is not the only area in which therapists help to support their communities.
Many people without mental health disorder diagnoses also benefit from engaging in therapy. Some therapists specialize in times of transition or family strain. Other therapists specialize in grief counseling. An area of growth in therapy are those who have specialized training to support those with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism.
No matter your age or what life phase you are currently in, therapy can support you through challenging times. We currently live in a stressful world, still recovering from a global pandemic, increased discrimination, and division. Therefore, we all may benefit from someone trained in listening.
How long does therapy last?
Some clients will work with therapists for many years, while others have a specific short-term goal and discontinue therapy after a few months. How long a person needs to commit to traditional therapy is dependent on each individual’s needs.
On the other hand, many therapists specialize in short-term therapeutic approaches and therefore can give you a clearer expectation of how many sessions will be recommended. Even a handful of therapy sessions can help you during a tough time.
Why do I prioritize regular therapy sessions?
There’s quite a few reasons why I, a therapist mom, prioritize regular therapy sessions with my own therapist:
- To support me during big life changes.
- To keep fresh tools in my repertoire for when my anxiety gets loud!
- To support me as a parent whether I just need to vent, need a fresh perspective and advice, or need expertise on emotional challenges my children are going through. (Yes, I’m a therapist who has worked with kids/teens, and I still NEED support. I can’t always “see” what is right in front of my face with my own children, I’m simply too close to the situation.)
- To help me strategize when I feel like my ADHD deficits are getting in the way of me meeting a goal. And . . . to celebrate when one of my ADHD strengths helps me conquer a goal!
- To help me recognize when I am using negative self-talk. Sometimes my anxious brain can be a bully and I may be stuck in a cycle of “catastrophizing” a situation by thinking the absolute worst could happen.
- Therapy is the ultimate “me time!” Therapy is my time. I can talk as much as I want to without having to worry that I am monopolizing the conversation. And if I’m not feeling talkative, I know that my therapist will take the reins and ask me the right questions or even have a new skill ready to teach me.
- I go because I know therapy can help!
Did I pique your interest? It’s so important to prioritize mental health and time with a therapist.
