When Is The Right Time To Seek Professional Help?
Let’s talk about therapy.
Anim Aweh is an LCSW, LICSW, CHE-Licensed mental health therapist, and writer. She has graciously lent her time and expertise to Marigold Health as a guest writer.
I want to talk about therapy. There is this idea that people only seek professional help when they are experiencing severe issues or when they are at their wit's end. When the media plagues us with images of people in straight jackets or portrays therapists as scary shrinks, it is no wonder therapy can seem scary. I understand it can seem like a very scary and dark undertaking.
I am here to tell you it does not have to be.
I think oftentimes, people believe that therapy is simply a space to talk about your problems. Contrary to popular belief, therapy can be so much more than that. It can involve some work that can be paramount to your future and even your current situation.
I want to highlight the word WORK.
Yes, it will be lots of work and commitment on your end. That’s why it is important to start when you are ready and not when others are pushing you to do so. Sometimes we can feel stuck, sometimes it’s a recent breakup and you need emotional support to grieve the loss. There is no right or wrong time to seek professional help. You will get the most out of therapy when it is on your terms and with someone you have developed a trusting relationship with.
Below you will find just a few reasons people find themselves ready to attend therapy. This does not.
1. Talking about problems
We are humans and we are prone to problems and mistakes in this life, that is a given. Sometimes seeking a therapist during these times can help make sense of certain problems or situations like:
1. Grief
2. Separation
3. Transitions in life
4. Coping with mental health concerns
We may find ourselves in. It’s important to work with a provider that is culturally sensitive and understanding of your story. If you don’t feel that is the case, shop around.
2. Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is the process by which a therapist exchanges information with the client by providing detailed information regarding a particular issue in a digestible way. When you begin therapy, they can use a significant amount of time for educating you on what the particular concern is. Let’s use depression, for example, we hear it all the time, but what does it actually mean? What does it mean when you hear people say a chemical imbalance versus situational?
Part of the beauty of therapy is that there is time to break down and clear up a lot of uncertainties. Do not be afraid to ask questions, especially as it relates to your care.
3. Develop coping strategies
Very often how we react or how we respond to a situation makes all the difference in the world. Therefore, coping skills are so important, and having space where we learn and try new ones without judgment is a bonus. Having healthy coping skills can be a tough process, especially when we have learned to navigate certain situations one way.
3. Gain a level of awareness around behaviors
Our actions and feelings dictate our behaviors. Whether we realize it, we all operate in patterns. So by gaining an awareness of this, we can disrupt these unhelpful patterns and develop healthier patterns. It is all about identifying what works for us and what doesn’t and by helping to identify that we can help build healthier lives and develop healthier patterns that are more sustainable.
4. Adjusting around an emotional response
An emotional response could be because of some sort of trauma-related issues, or maybe an unfortunate situation took place that wasn’t so favorable and you need help to process that. Therapy creates that safe space to process your own feelings and emotions around a particular matter. Many of us are not always fortunate enough to have the spaces or the people to turn to to cope with things like this unbiasedly, so therapy helps in making sure that we have the safe space to process these emotions that come up for us.
5. Transitional space in life
Sometimes we grow out of things such as relationships, jobs, spaces, or places, and we need help with making sense of it and developing a strategy to get to our next destination. Therapy can be incredibly beneficial during transitional times in our lives.
As you can see, therapy holds many benefits; these were just a few reasons. It’s not just the place to process emotions, even though that can play a major part and is very important. It can also serve so many areas of our lives. The next time you ask yourself if you’re ready for therapy, I think the better question is: Can I find a therapist to meet the needs given where I am currently at? I want to caution you that in order to get the maximum benefits, you must be prepared to put in some work.
When we are clear on what therapy is and if not we can help do our part in reducing the stigma around therapy and mental health.
Keep up with Marigold by signing up for our monthly newsletter!
