Me? Therapy? Never, I’m perfectly normal; Xyz on the other hand needs to see a therapist because he’s messed up. We’ve all heard someone say something along those lines, maybe even said it ourselves? I know I’ve heard it more times than I can count. The movie portrayals of people seeking psychological services and the therapy sessions they attend do not help matters and so people would never consider therapy unless things are completely out of hand.
When issues around psychology arise there is typically a focus on the negative aspects, dealing with “psycho people”, as they are commonly referred to, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. There have been widespread efforts to end the stigma associated with mental health issues and they are proving quite successful. More and more people are beginning to talk openly about mental health challenges, seek treatment and support others in similar situations.
We can take this progress a step further if we begin to look at psychological intervention beyond treatment of severe disorders like schizophrenia. We need to explore it as a means to enhance the growth and well-being of individuals and the society. Positive psychology is the branch of psychology that shifts from the prevalent narrative of psychology, which is often sad and dreary, and instead focuses on the subject from a perspective of growth. The field seeks to identify and build up the strengths of individuals so that we can have healthier, happier and more fulfilled members of society.
You are not crazy, stupid, weak etc. for going to talk to a therapist! There is nothing wrong with you signing up for therapy!!!! Psychotherapy is simply defined as “talk therapy” and since talking is something that we all do, therapy can be beneficial for people who are not dealing with any kind of psychological distress. This is a fact that is often overlooked or unknown to many.
Benefits of Psychotherapy
Provides a trained, non-judgmental listener: This is probably the most obvious advantage of therapy. You have the opportunity to talk to someone who will professionally help you make choices. They are able to listen to you and see things from a non-biased perspective. A therapist DOES NOT advise or make decisions for you, they are simply there as a sounding-board to help you to make decisions for yourself.
Increases awareness: Another benefit of therapy is that you are able to understand yourself and others better as you work with your therapist. Talk therapy helps many individuals know more about themselves through various tests, tasks and activities as they work with trained professionals.
Teaches you coping skills: We all face stressful situations and would want to know how best to handle them. Our goal is to function more effectively in daily life in spite of the stresses of life. Yes, there are skills that you can learn to help with this. You don’t have to struggle alone when handling difficult situations.
Improves communication skills: Have you spent hours talking only to discover that your listener didn’t understand your message? It can be a frustrating experience! Therapists are trained to help you learn how to communicate more effectively with your family, friends co-workers etc.
Helps achieve personal growth: Therapy is an excellent way to work at building your strengths and also minimizing your weaknesses. For example you could decide to seek therapy in order to develop your public speaking skills or learn how control your responses when you’re angry.
Addresses various psychological issues: We finally come to the most popular aspect of therapy. This includes anxiety, depression, phobias, posttraumatic stress disorders etc. Therapy is helpful in providing individuals with the skill that will help them manage psychological disorders.
It is important to note that therapy is not magic and requires effort on the part of both the therapist and the client, however if followed through research has shown that it is extremely beneficial for individuals across various demographics.
Therapy is for everyone!!!