Individual therapy is a joint process between a therapist and a person seeking help and support. Common goals of therapy can be to inspire change or improve one’s quality of life. Other goals that make people seek therapy can be to learn skills for handling difficult situations, making healthy decisions, and reaching goals. Therapy can even help people increase positive feelings, such as compassion and self-esteem. It can even be a place to talk about whatever is on your mind, even positive things. It is healthy to talk about good things, so why not do so in a safe and therapeutic setting. Many find they enjoy the therapeutic journey of becoming more self-aware.
It could be time to seek therapy if an issue causes a person distress, effects a person’s ability to function daily, creates feelings of being unhappy or overwhelmed, or even hopelessness. You do not have to wait until symptoms become severe before going to therapy.
Some people may avoid treatment, and there are many reasons for this. Some of these reasons include being worried about the stigma of getting mental health care, feelings of shame when speaking about past, or not wanting to acknowledge that anything is wrong.
However, statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) show mental health issues are common in the United States. In fact, 1 in 5 adults may be affected. It may help to remember that therapists are trained professionals who provide support and maintain confidentiality. They are used to helping people work through painful or embarrassing issues.