She Strengthens

The Power of Therapy: Unlocking a Healthier You

In today’s fast-paced world, having a strong support system is crucial for navigating life’s challenges. During times of uncertainty, seeking therapy can be a valuable resource for emotional outlet, positive support, and guidance. But what exactly is therapy, and how can it benefit you?

Defining Therapy

Therapy is a method for treating a broad range of mental health conditions through open and honest dialogue. Professional therapists empower their clients to make positive changes in their lives, whether it’s building skills to handle stress, strengthening emotional stability, or boosting self-esteem.

The Benefits of Therapy

So, what can you expect from therapy? Some of the benefits include:

• Lowered emotional reactivity
• Raised self-esteem
• Greater confidence in your abilities
• A feeling of empowerment
• Ability to make healthier life choices
• Insight to set healthier social boundaries
• Increased sense of hope
• New perspective on current problems
• Greater self-understanding
• Healthy strategies to deal with stress
• Tools for improved communication skills
• Feelings of relief and validation
• Different context to navigate past struggles
• Deeper understanding of your thought patterns
• Stronger and healthier personal relationships

Conditions That Can Be Helped by Therapy

Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to have a mental health condition to benefit from therapy. However, therapy is also a good treatment option for a variety of mental illnesses and conditions, including depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders like PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders, among others.

The 4 Main Types of Therapy

With so many approaches to therapy, it can be overwhelming. Here are the main types that tend to be utilized most often:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT practitioners believe that the way we perceive ourselves and events in our lives can cause us distress. Therapists specializing in this method can help you build the ability to have more objective and realistic beliefs, rather than having negative thoughts.

Some benefits of CBT include:

• Shifting negative thoughts and beliefs
• Coping with grief or loss
• Improving overall view of self
• Managing anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues

Behavioral Therapy

This approach assumes that all behaviors are learned — and in the same vein, unhealthy behaviors can be unlearned. A behavioral therapist would help you rewire your behaviors by changing the associations behind those behaviors.

Some outcomes of behavioral therapy may include:

• Getting rid of depression and grief
• Getting rid of phobias
• Treating behavioral issues in children
• Managing eating disorders
• Overcoming addiction

Humanistic Therapy

This method works on the assumption that your worldview impacts the choices you make, for better or for worse. You’re the best at understanding your own experiences and needs — it’s your therapist’s job to help you become your true self, and to accept who you are.

Some benefits of humanistic therapy include:

• Boosting confidence
• Treating anxiety and depression
• Resolving relationship issues
• Increasing self-worth

Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic Therapies

Psychoanalytic therapy believes your actions are driven by your unconscious mind, while psychodynamic therapy involves looking at the way your relationships with close friends and family has an impact on how you respond to stress.

Some benefits of psychodynamic therapy include:

• Reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Gaining understanding of yourself
• Creating more satisfying relationships

Accessibility of Therapy

Starting out on your therapy journey doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t even need to leave your home. There are many options for finding therapists near you, including:

• Employment Assistance Programs (EAP)
• University counseling and therapy resources
• Insurance company referrals
• Online searches
• Sliding scale fees
• Local county services

Remember, there’s no wrong way in therapy. If you’re a client, all you need to do is show up, and your therapist will figure out the rest of it together.