On Seeking Therapy

In the days following Hadley’s accident I was encouraged by many friends and family members to seek therapy. It was painfully obvious to them that I had a good deal of post-traumatic stress from the whole ordeal, so one day after a good cry-sesh with my sister I picked up the phone and made an appointment for as soon as they could get me in.

I’d never been to therapy before and was admittedly very nervous before my first session, but swallowing my pride and seeking an unbiased third-party to talk to has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I remember feeling back to my old self and happy on the morning of my first appointment back in September, and for a split second I considered canceling because maybe I didn’t really need the help after all; maybe I was healing just fine after all. Thankfully I used better judgement and went to the appointment, and it’s made a remarkable difference in my healing process.

I think society as a whole is trying to do a much better job of tearing down the stigma of mental illness, depression, PTSD, etc., but I think when push comes to shove many people are still very reserved and timid about admitting they might need a little help with whatever situation they’re struggling with – big or small. After just a month of attending my weekly sessions, I’m basically over here jumping up and down (and now sharing with thousands of people via this blog – ahhhh) about how much of a positive impact they’ve made in my life.

A good friend said it best when she said this: Even though I was feeling better and healing on my own, seeing a therapist is a great idea because they’re able to use their skills to identify underlying issues that are causing occasional struggles – issues that I probably wouldn’t be able to identify on my own but that may negatively spill out in other areas of my life indirectly.

A few reasons I’m very pro-counseling

1.) My therapist has an incredible ability to sum up my thoughts in a way none of my friends or family members have been able to do. She makes me feel very understood.

2.) She’s validated some of my feelings as perfectly normal, but she’s also given me an objective guideline for how long some of these feelings should last and how to recognize if things start drifting to the “not so normal, maybe I need additional help” side.

3.) She’s pulled out other issues I had/have that I didn’t even realize were quite as heavy as they were, and we’ve talked about and dealt with those too. Her counsel has left me feeling more confident, mature, and equipped to handle these situations.

I’ve talked with a dozen family members and close friends who have seen therapists in the past for issues ranging from family turmoil, death of a loved one, anxiety over job direction, and more, and every single person is so glad they went and can site several lightbulb moments they experienced during their sessions.

If you’re dealing with a situation that has you feeling weighed down, overwhelmed, depressed, or just plain confused, I’d highly recommend researching therapy services in your area and giving them a call. Even if your insurance doesn’t cover it, just a few sessions will likely be worth every penny.

More great posts on seeking therapy

8 Signs You Should See a Therapist

My Dirty Secret: I See a Therapist

Why Seeking a Therapist Makes You Strong, Not Weak

Let’s chat!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Also, do I have any readers who work in this field? What other advice can you add about why your services are worth seeking?