Have you been vaguely flirting with the idea that maybe sometime you should try going to therapy? Here are 7 reasons why NOW (not ‘sometime’) could be the perfect time to go to therapy.
1. The Planet Needs You
Our world is going through some scary stuff at the moment. From climate change to terrorism to cybercrime to political upheavals – not to mention things that humanity has always had to deal with, like accidents, wars, natural disasters and disease – we are faced with a lot that requires us to have a cool head and an ability to think in complex and creative ways. Therapy can’t solve climate change, but it can help us to manage our feelings. When we’re better able to manage our emotions (and handle other people’s) it helps us to not stick our heads in the sand in denial and fear about what needs doing. Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy, because we need to be alert, aware and ready to act.
2. You’re the Perfect Age
Of course you are! Sure, getting therapy when you were younger might have been helpful; but you’ve got so much more life experience now. You’ll be quicker to see patterns that have occurred in your life. Before, maybe you weren’t ready for the hard work (and massive rewards) of therapy. And it’s a fact that no therapy will be effective when you aren’t ready to dive in (or at least, to dip a toe in and try it). Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy, because you are ready to give it a go. So be brave and start looking for a great therapist today!
3. Start Your Investment Now
Think of therapy as an investment. You’re making your inner life richer, healthier and more meaningful; and your relationships with family, partner and friends are likely to benefit. You don’t have to keep on paying in to this investment for the rest of your life; and yet, the chances are that the increases in well-being and resilience are likely to last indefinitely (particularly if you are lucky enough to find a therapist who works experientially and relationally). Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy and start up that investment in yourself.
4. Free up Your Options
Therapy can help you look at yourself, your relationships and your life choices in new and excitingly interesting ways. You may realise that your options in life are more varied than you had always assumed. Even a very small shift in viewpoint can allow you to feel quite different and react differently to the inevitable stressors and limitations in your life. Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy.
5. Create a Meaningful Life
It’s quite common for people to come into therapy feeling a bit flat and empty, and wondering ‘what’s the point in anything?’ Therapy can help you identify what sparks you up. It can also help you work on ways to safely release and express the blocked feelings that have been dampening that vital spark. Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy, and connect with your inner sense of meaning.
6. Your Loved Ones Will Benefit
You’ll develop new ways to think about what’s going on for others (your friends, partner, and family members), as well as yourself. You’ll get better at expressing your true feelings and needs, and listening to others without needing to shut them down or ignore them. And if you have kids – no matter what their age (even adult) – your relationship with them will benefit from you becoming more emotionally available and sensitive to their (and your own) needs. Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy, before another decade goes by…
7. Therapy is Different Nowadays
If you have tried therapy in the past, and found it unhelpful or limited, you might be very interested to work with a therapist who is trained in a different way. Modern therapies tend to be much more trauma-informed than their predecessors. Neuroscience has been a real boon to the therapy world, helping therapists tailor their approaches to be increasingly powerful and helpful. Now could be the perfect time to go to therapy, and connect with a therapist who has an underpinning of tried-and-true methods and theories, combined with newer, trauma-informed techniques and understandings.
So… Give Therapy a Try Today!
For more information about how to go about searching for and choosing a great therapist, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Great Therapist in Essex (even if you’re not in Essex, you’ll find some helpful general tips in here).
I work with creative, sensitive, thoughtful women near Colchester, Essex and also online. You can read more here. To arrange a free 15-minute consultation to see whether we might be a good match, email me at espcameron[at]protonmail.com.
I love the comparison you made by saying that therapy is an investment in yourself. I feel like if more people see it that way instead of looking at therapy like it is a bad thing then more people who need help will get it.