What I Understand About Therapy Now
I started seeing a therapist a year and a half ago. Here is what I understand about therapy now:
You do not have to earn the right or reason to seek therapy by experiencing a certain level of trauma or tragedy. I have always been someone who believed in people seeking care for their mental health. My mother is a licensed clinical social worker and was the director of counseling at a university for a long time. I know because of her how important and transformative therapy and counseling can be. I have suggested friends and women I have served through ministry seek help for years. But as I think back I realize that I usually did so after the woman experienced something wildly unfortunate like the loss of a loved one or the painful end of a relationship. While I have experienced deep loss and relational wounds I didn't think I had experienced anything worthy of seeking help beyond my loved ones, my mom is a pro after all.
I chose to seek help after having a few months which felt really hard. Normal disappointments felt like blows to my sense of safety and self. The world had gone through the 2020 election and a global pandemic. Overlapping those realities I had moved 500 miles away from my family, city, and church community that raised me. I had started a new job that required travel but after a year I took on a new higher-stakes role at the same time my work bestie had left the org for a new opportunity. I didn't experience personal tragedy but I did come to the conclusion that I needed to take intentional steps to navigate my way out of the fog and weight of it all. This is the second thing I understand about counseling now, we all have things in our lives that we could use help navigating.
Lastly, a sweet reality I understand about therapy now is that therapy is not just reflecting on things that have already happened that may be affecting you. It has helped me develop tools and rhythms for moving forward and living well. It has been helpful for things as practical as planning hard conversations with family or coworkers. I refer to what I have learned while planning my event calendar to make room for exhale (rest). I live a lot less reactively and feel empowered to handle what is ahead.
Amiga, you will not regret choosing to heal. You will not regret investing in yourself. God wants you well and so do I!
What questions do you have about therapy/counseling? I'd love to have your questions answered in a follow-up post. Leave questions in the comments.
For now, watch the IG Lives we did with my mom during Mental Health Awareness Month in 2021. She talked with us about how to best care for ourselves, about our hope in God for our minds, and about therapy.
