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Benefits of Therapy





There are a variety of benefits associated with therapy. Each one will come in handy at different stages or periods of the process. When it’s all said and done, therapy is about self-betterment and self-improvement. If these are processes which you value, then you will certainly appreciate the following benefits.

Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Feeling stressed out or overwhelmed is common in today’s world. The ability to cope and deal in a healthy, positive and constructive manner is often the difference between success and failure in life. A person who is unable to manage themselves when things get tough may have some hard times ahead of them.
Attending therapy can change this. By working with a licensed professional who specializes in helping others, you can learn healthy coping mechanisms which allow you to navigate the challenges of life without burning out or falling apart. As human beings, we all face challenges and tough times. Everyone can benefit from learning healthy coping mechanisms..

Overcoming Past Trauma

If issues from the past are not dealt with, they can linger, fester, and adversely impact your day-to-day life. Overcoming past trauma is not always easy, but it’s something that you can do when you work with a therapist. Therapists have undergone extensive graduate-level education, training, and supervised work in order to learn and implement science-backed techniques to help you move through things.
Working through past trauma is not easy. It’s natural to feel hesitant or uneasy about discussing prior traumas and upsetting events. Certain issues going on in your present life may be the result of prior trauma, and by addressing that root cause, you may be better equipped to move forward. It will take time, but with your dedication and willingness with the help of your therapist, you will overcome.

A Sounding Board

Loneliness is a problem many people face. Feeling isolated can often contribute to an already overwhelming situation. A strong support system can be helpful in facing the challenges life often presents, and without that system, in place, additional stress may be added to life.
This is when having a therapist in your corner can be so beneficial. The job of your therapist is to listen to you, ask appropriate questions, and then work with you to find solutions to the challenges you’re facing. Having someone to talk to, turn to, and confide in can make an amazing difference.

Improved Relationships

When going to therapy, the relationships that you have with others are bound to come up. This is a good thing. Relationships share such an intimate tie with our quality of life and who we are as people. The right relationships can make us better people while the wrong relationships can wreak havoc and drag us down. In order to have the best quality of life, we need to enjoy positive, mutually beneficial relationships.
The benefits of therapy are not limited to your relationships with others, but also your relationship with yourself. This sets the tone for how you will interact with others. Furthermore, having a great relationship involves treating yourself kindly, taking care of yourself, pushing yourself to achieve your goals, and maintaining high levels of self-esteem.
Improving your relationships with others and yourself can take time, but this is an incredible benefit of working with a therapist.

Achievement Of Goals

Throughout the process of therapy, your therapist is going to work with you and help you set certain goals which will be beneficial to you. Your therapist will also assist you on your journey of reaching and fulfilling these goals. This is a very impactful part of therapy which sets the precedent for what life will be like after your work with your therapist is complete. The ability to set goals and achieve them matters, not just in therapy, but in everyday life as well.
You will find that achieving goals will also contribute to your self-esteem. When you set a goal and accomplish it, you’re reinforcing to yourself that you’re capable. This increases confidence and makes you likelier to branch out and challenge yourself more often. This plays a pivotal role in living your best life and making the most of the opportunities which present themselves to you.

Purging Bad Habits

When you work with a therapist, you have the opportunity to get rid of self-destructive habits. In many cases, therapy can greatly help you with this by providing various constructive alternatives. Bad habits tend to make adverse situations even worse than they already are. By getting rid of bad habits, you are already on the path to enjoying and experiencing a better quality of life.

THE PROCESS OF THERAPY

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Initial contact/First appointment

Upon arriving at your first appointment, you will be given paperwork to fill out. This may include a detailed personal history (e.g., information about you parents, marital situation, physical health, medications) as well as insurance information (your insurance card will likely be copied). There is also likely to be information about the confidentiality of the sessions and any limits to that confidentiality will be presented.


Therapy plan

Early in therapy, you and your therapist will likely develop a treatment plan. Remember, the treatment plan is a joint effort between you and the therapist. It is likely to include structured tasks for you to complete or issues for you to consider between sessions. Your treatment plan may also include goals and criteria for assessing when these goals have been reached. Some therapists will use a written treatment plan, signed by the patient and therapist. Other therapists will use a less formal plan. Either way, you should know the goals of treatment and how you will accomplish them.

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Process of therapy

Like most relationships, the therapeutic relationship can have its ups and downs. The initial exuberance felt during the initial stages of therapy may fade. The therapist whom you once saw as supportive and understanding can now seem challenging. This is not unusual or an indication that your therapy is stalled. It is important that you stick to your plan during this time and push ahead. It will help if you share your feelings with your therapist. This process can often uncover uncomfortable emotions that can be addressed.