Is Therapy Right for Me?
Is Therapy Right for Me?
If I told you that I had been asked the question ‘is therapy right for me?’ 100 times, that number is probably an understatement. My answer always remains the same: if you have asked yourself, or, let’s face it, googled the question ‘do I need therapy for...?’ (usually followed by a self-diagnosis courtesy of Google), then you would probably benefit from talking to a therapist.
What are the benefits of therapy?
If you’re finding yourself thinking about having therapy or even googling therapy, with that curiosity being sparked by a hurdle or challenge in your life, then that curiosity is worth exploring and could well lead to many health benefits. Therapy can be beneficial for an array of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, Obssesive Compulsive Dirsorder (OCD), to name a few. However, I am a bug believer that you do not need to have an identified or diagnosed mental health issue to benefit from therapy. In fact, I see many clients who have experienced the power that therapy has, and the ability it has to release the anxiety and tension that they been carrying around with them in their ‘backpack’…sometimes unbeknownst to them until they embark upon their therapeutic journey.
As human beings, we don’t all find it easy to understand our complex thoughts and feelings, however the right therapy can allow you to do just that and find ways to communicate whatever it is that is causing you discomfort or just making you feel not ok…and it’s ok to not feel ok.
What would a therapy session look like, and how will I know the right therapy for me?
There are so many therapeutic modalities available, and therapy will always look slightly different depending on the reason you’re seeking support and the type of therapy that is best suited for you. As a champion for integrative therapy, I believe there isn’t just one therapeutic approach that can help you in all situations. You are an individual, and your set of circumstances differ from the next person, therefore adopting an integrative approach uses elements of different therapies to help you explore and cope with your problems. Some, but not all examples of the different types of therapeutic modalities are:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Compassion Focused Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Couples Therapy / Couples Counselling
- Person Centred Therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Integrative Therapy
- Art, Play & Creative Therapies (in person)
- ADHD Support
Many of the above modalities ‘borrow’ techniques from each other, and it’s not a list to cause confusion, but more of a list of supportive opportunity in which your therapist can advise you on when creating your bespoke therapeutic journey. In a nutshell, one-to-one talking therapy looks like you sitting down with a therapist, either online or in-person, and communicating the issues that are important to you, in your life.
When describing a typical therapy session, that can be somewhat difficult as it all depends on the individual and their needs. Some clients come to therapy with a particular issue they want to work on throughout the entirety of their journey, and other clients prefer to focus on different areas in each session. However, what’s really important to note here is that having a professional to guide you through communicating your personal thoughts and feelings can open doors that lead to an insight into your life experiences that you never thought you could reach. At every step, your therapist is there to be your guide.
What does the therapist’s role look like?
Therapist can’t wave a magic wand and make all your problems disappear, as much as we would like, and some problems can be long-term rather than short-term and relate to difficulties in your life that you have buried deep or are the result of ill mental health. And whilst we don’t diagnose mental health conditions, we can support and provide relief from your problems.
A therapist is neutral and will always remain so. We listen with no judgment, and rarely provide direct advice, supporting you to reach decisions yourself. However, we may set you some tasks or exercises to complete outside of sessions for certain types of therapies e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We may ask you to come to sessions with points to add on the agenda, paving the way for you to become your own therapist.
You may have people to lean on, and that’s fantastic, however it can sometimes help to talk to an impartial person who lies outside of your typical support network. Whilst it’s always invaluable to have family and friends around you who you can share your problems and worries with, and in turn receive support back, therapy provides support that is unique and provides a different and unbiased form of support. Friends and family may sometimes provide support which also carries concern for others, or an altera agenda, and almost always comes from the best intentions but can lead to advice based on emotions rather than neutrality. Think of your therapy sessions as looking in a mirror at yourself, as a place to express your thoughts and feelings and an opportunity to reflect upon how you can learn more about yourself.
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