I've been going to therapy for a decade now and it's been an essential part of my self growth. It's allowed me to access and process difficult feelings, given me tools to handle difficult situations, and helped me cry it out when I needed to. If you are considering trying out therapy, here are some reasons you should go for it, from a therapy-loving artist!
Validation
Feeling validated is important because it helps us feel seen, heard, and understood. When our thoughts, emotions, and experiences are acknowledged, it reinforces our sense of self-worth and emotional well-being. It’s crucial for a therapist to validate your feelings because it creates a sense of safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship, which is essential for healing and personal growth.
Safe space to feel your feelings
If you find the right therapist, he or she will create a safe space for your feelings and emotions by offering an environment that is nonjudgmental, confidential, and supportive. They are trained to maintain this environment because it's proven to help you process whatever emotions come up for you. We don't always have space at home or work to feel all our feelings, so therapy is a great outlet.
Personal growth
Therapy fosters personal growth by helping you explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, promoting self-awareness and emotional regulation. It provides tools to break negative patterns, build self-compassion, and improve relationships, while also supporting goal setting and healing from past experiences. Through ongoing support and perspective shifting, therapy empowers you to make intentional choices and develop healthier coping skills for long-term growth.
Tools for difficult situations
There are a number of practical tools therapy provides. Things like stress management, problem-solving skills, communication training, and self-compassion practices are all skills I've improved while going to therapy over the years. I especially love to look at things through an IFS lens, which you can learn more about here.
Professional advice you can trust
Sometimes you need extra support outside of your friend group. This is when a therapist comes in handy. A therapist is able to look at things with an objective, unbiased perspective, free from personal emotions or relationships. They bring expert knowledge and evidence-based techniques tailored to your needs, while a friend may lack the skills or training to offer effective guidance. You also know it's confidential, which is super important when sharing difficult emotions and experiences.
