For some of us, life throws so many punches that we wonder how to get through it or who or what can help?
So, some people are asking themselves, “Should I go back to therapy? And you might be wondering — how many people is this? So many people are asking the very same question right now: Does therapy work during uncertain times? and “Who the hell can even fix me?
By giving you the healing, personal growth, and lifestyle tools to live a more balanced life — therapy can be one of the most transformative experiences out there.
This can be uncertain, but this act is sacred — the first of a thousand steps to coming home to your Self.
What is Therapy?
Doesn’t matter if you are struggling with stress, life transitions, grief, relationship conflict or mental health concerns, therapy provides a safe space to address these challenges in a non-judgmental way.
Psychologists, counseling psychologists or social workers with advanced training in psychotherapy. They can assist you in recognizing maladaptive thought, behavioral, and emotional patterns and to better manage stress and affect.
Different needs require different forms of therapy:
- Person therapy: these are one on one consultations with a mental health professional
- Couples therapy involves enhancing communication and support between parties.
- Family therapy addresses unhealthy family patterns and communication
- Group therapy allows people with similar struggles to come together, offering a combination of professional information and peer support
Should I go to therapy?
When do you need therapy? Therapy, of course, should not just be for a crisis — though certainly that (and the moments around it) are times to reach your hand out.
Amongst other day to day challenges, it can assist in overcoming severe mental health conditions and work woes, relationships battles or stress.
Often times the issues that therapy deals with are traumatic experiences, transition periods in one’s life or personal growth that could be explored and processed well so that you move forward from them. This are a few possible sign you may need to see a therapist:
- Feeling Depressed, anxious or angry
- An increased feeling of helplessness/sadness for longer periods
- Distractions at work or difficulty finishing everyday chores
- Always thinking the worst, excessive worrying, and remaining unable to be at ease.
- Stress or grieving from life changes such as: Divorce, Death of a loved one, Empty Nest, New Job
- Permanent health issues affecting mood, physical health, or overall well-being
- Adolescents may respond to stress by engaging in behaviors such as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, taking drugs, or acting out with anger.
- Changes in weight, appetite or sleep
How to Find a Therapist
If some of these signs are ringing a bell, the next step is looking for a therapist. So, consider what your goals are and what type of therapist that is aligned with those qualities.
Vague thoughts about the kind of work you would like to do and what type of therapist can help will give direction to your process.
For example, do you want a therapist to be the same gender as you, or have the same racial. Maybe for you, it will be about finding that person who has had experience in dealing with veterans, first responders or the LGBTQIA+ community.
After you figure out what you need in terms of mental health coverage, look into your benefits.
Is there an EAP, or perhaps Lyra Health? Is a directory of providers required by your insurance? Therapist profiles will usually have a picture, qualifications & expertise, therapeutic approaches used, and certifications to help with your shortlist.
That is followed by contact. Most therapists will also typically do a brief consult ranging from 10 – 15minute to see if you’re a good fit. The purpose of this call is to see what kind style their follow-up is, how they communicate and connect with you.
What is involved in therapy?
If you are new to trying therapy, these might be some of the questions you have in mind:
What is the difference between counselling and therapy? Does therapy work? How does online therapy work? The first therapy will be a gathering information so, they asl you why are you in therapy and about your days if your calm stressed out when last time talked to friend;). These questions help the therapist know what are they dealing within session aside from secondary material and where are they ok- is that clear?
Some people benefit from the convenience of access to virtual sessions and providers outside their area, while others prefer a combination of in-person care with on follow-up online therapy. Can you even be helped via the video-chat option, well a lot of research shows teletherapy to be as effective as in-person therapy so there is that!
Therapy During these first couple of sessions, you will determine together what your therapeutic goals are and work towards them. Although sessions will be dense this is okay and if something else rises to the surface I am not going to clock-watch on it. Therapy: therapeutically and sufficiently addressing whatever is on my mind.
Therapy then provides a pathway to illuminate and work through the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors causing your suffering. So you will learn different ways to cope with these issues in a healthy manner. The truth of the matter is, therapy is your journey, while it may be difficult at times( because healing is hard work), you ultimately make the decisions on what to address and how to do so with your therapist by your side supporting and guiding you through.
Does therapy work?
Studies have shown that therapy works for people of all racial/ethnic groups, cultures, genders and ages who experience a wide range of conditions. Therapy is often more subtle, indicating that it is working attributed to small shifts in ones thoughts, attitudes as well as behaviors. Here is what you may identify: ·
- You know your emotions better
- Better coping strategies for stress, anxiety, or any challenging experiences
- Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
- Having more fulfilling relationships with your improved communication and boundaries
- Working toward the goals you identified at the start of counseling
- Feelings of less anxiety, depression, etc., that lead you to therapy
- How to be more resilient when confronted by adversity
Getting Through and Making Therapy Work
Remember these key things to make the most of therapy:
Embrace the process — you do not have to go face first. Things will get easier when you allow yourself to express what your thoughts are leading you towards.
Query— Do not hesitate to ask any questions. For instance, if your therapist recommends that you try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), or another method, ask them to explain how they function and how they work.
Do any activities you even might have been assigned — a lot of the true growth occurs between the sessions in actually using what you learned (and so do your homework).
Prioritize therapy — Treat your session time as if it were an appointment with God. Do not overwork to the detriment of your health, and participate completely. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.
How Do You Know When It Is Time to End Therapy?
- Goals have been met or you feel much better - If you believe that you're in a position that's considerably improved beyond when you came for your first session, or made significant improvements to the issues at hand, this is also an indication that it may be time to end counselling.
- You have less to discuss in therapy - You have gone from weekly appointments to now biweekly, or maybe even monthly. It seems that this gradual downhill slide is often the cue that you have now come into possession of some tools to manage your way through life on your own.
- Handling emotions better - Everything that overwhelmed you before is finally feeling manageable, and stress seems to be something that barely affects you anymore.
- Life Challenges You Less- The situations in your life that used to loom for hours or days linger much less when they arise, and you handle stressors with a positive attitude more easily.
It means you have grown so much that life no longer feels hard and confusing but instead with a new sense of freedom and empowerment. And, know that you can always go back to therapy.
Get support to move forward
Maybe you are wondering, “Should I seek therapy for this? Give it a try.
Therapists are not simply trying to help us cope — they want us to thrive, so that we never have to suffer from these problems ever again. Therapy helps you access your potential, break down barriers and live a more functional happy life even when feels hard to do.
Next Steps
Contact Odyssey Counseling today at 505-315-7397 to schedule a setting up your Albuquerque counseling appointment. It’s time to take the you next steps to getting better and being happy!
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