Therapy: A prevention or a cure? (Spoiler: it’s both)
- Lexi Johnson
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Is therapy just for a crisis?
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to therapy is that it is predominantly for crisis situations.
You hear about people who see a therapist when they go through a traumatic experience, a divorce, or a major loss. You may find yourself asking: “Why would I need a therapist? I’m not in a crisis.”
Less commonly talked about is just how effective therapy can be in everyday life as a preventative measure, maintaining your mental health before it comes to a point of crisis.
What benefits does therapy have in everyday situations?
Therapy is effective due to neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to change in response to stress, new information and experiences.
Stressful situations and poor mental health can change your brain, but consistent therapy can likewise restore it to a healthier state. [1]
Additionally, counseling helps you build a “toolbox” of coping mechanisms and strategies, leaving you better equipped to handle challenges when they arise.
While seeing a therapist without a big “reason” may feel unnecessary, it can be extremely helpful to gain more coping tools and catch negative thought patterns early, setting you up to maintain a happy and healthy mind for life.
So when is seeing a therapist beneficial?
Stress and anxiety
We are often pressured to “just push through” stress and anxiety. But when they become persistent in your daily life, it can be helpful to talk to a counselor.
When stress and anxiety become persistent in your daily life, it can be helpful to talk to a counselor.
For example, insight-oriented therapy focuses on uncovering the subconscious reasons behind anxiety responses and how underlying emotions and past experiences affect your anxiety. The goal is to increase self-awareness and understanding. [3] By becoming aware of what triggers your stress and anxiety, you can be better prepared to handle these situations and take the steps your mind needs to relax again.
Relationships
Another example is couples counseling, marriage counseling and relationship therapy. It is commonly believed that therapy is only for relationships headed toward separation.
However, as an article from Utah State University puts it, “we routinely service our cars, go to the dentist for cleanings, and get annual physicals even if nothing’s wrong. Why should our most important relationship be any different?” [2]
“We routinely service our cars, go to the dentist for cleanings, and get annual physicals even if nothing’s wrong. Why should our most important relationship be any different?”
Therapy can help bring couples closer to each other by establishing healthy communication, fostering vulnerability, and preventing future conflicts.
Some of the best times for partners to see a therapist is:
During a major life transition
Before engagement or marriage
During “quiet seasons,” taking the opportunity to reflect and deepen your relationship
Confidence
Additionally, therapy can play a key role in building confidence and self esteem. It provides a unique opportunity to be introspective, recognizing and understanding the fears and negative thought patterns that lead to a negative self-image. [4]
Through techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, creating affirmations and exploring self-care, a therapist will work with you to build a new mental framework that fosters a healthier, more confident self image. This builds resilience — an essential tool during challenging times and life transitions such as moving or relationship changes.
Therapy during crisis
Therapy is, of course, also an extremely valuable option during more extreme hardships. Anxiety, hopelessness, and overwhelm during a crisis can easily escalate if you don’t take care of your mental and emotional health.
Crisis situations may prove easier to handle if you have already been working with a therapist to manage everyday struggles, practice emotional coping tools and build resilience through challenges.
Therapy is a powerful way to maintain awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors during these times so you can take care of yourself as you recover, without having to face it alone.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is especially effective at treating anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders that can be caused by tragedy and crisis. [5]
However, even crisis situations may prove easier to handle if you have already been working with a therapist to manage everyday struggles, practice emotional coping tools and build resilience through challenges.
Conclusion
So the moral of the story is, you don’t have to have a major crisis or disorder to go to therapy.
During therapy, you gain a new perspective on your life and gain coping tools that you will continue to use.Therapy has been shown to lead to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, increased self-awareness, and improved emotional regulation.
Therefore, if you are wondering whether it’s worth it to see a counselor, book a few sessions to try it out. Even if you don’t stick with it forever, you may find that you gain some insights that will help you understand yourself better, ultimately allowing you more peace of mind.
Reach out
Reach out to schedule an appointment with one of our Fort Worth therapists, either in-person at our Trinity River location, or through an online session.
Or find another good therapist in Fort Worth to help stay on top of your emotional health now, so you can start living your best life!
Sources:
Comments