Why Therapy?
I am generalizing here, but I think it’s safe to say that life is not easy. We don’t have a manual or a rulebook. Sometimes we have experiences that have significant impact on us, whether we realize it or not. The definition of general therapy is the “treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.” The definition of therapy in terms of psychotherapy is “the treatment of mental conditions by verbal communication and interaction” (Oxford Languages). Sometimes, talking is all we need!
When I decided to go to graduate school for clinical mental health, I thought about how different the world would look if every human had a therapist or counselor. I imagined a world with less pain and more comfort and peace. I worked at a daycare for four years throughout undergrad and noticed how many kids were actually struggling to find their place and how easily they shared about how they were feeling. I was just someone who was there and willing to listen. It made me realize how much power there is when someone can be present with another person, who listens and supports them. Now imagine a world where we utilized people who were trained to do this.
Therapy is an opportunity to share, learn, process, and grow in all of these areas. How often do you feel like you can walk up to someone and tell them how you really feel? How often can you expect to avoid judgement when being vulnerable? And how painful is it if we never allow ourselves that opportunity?
Therapy can be so many things, but at the core it is dependent on the person who is seeking it and what they want or need. So technically, it can be whatever you want it to be. It’s our job as therapists to advocate, support, and provide a safe space for you. Therapy can help one’s quality of life and in my opinion, improving one’s quality of life is priceless. So, at the end of the day, there doesn’t have to be a problem to go to therapy, just a want to live the healthiest life you can. We can help with that!
Written by Maria Harris, LPC February 2023
References:
Oxford languages and google - English. Oxford Languages. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
