The Individual’s Experience of Therapy: Part 2

The understanding of therapy can sometimes be mired in misformation, stigma and myths which can often make it difficult for one to decide whether they need help, and where or how to seek it. While it can be helpful to talk about your problems to close friends and family members, sometimes you need help that the people around you aren’t able to provide. In such a case, talking to a mental health professional could help – and not just with diagnosable concerns but also with everyday problems.

An individual’s choices, recovery and subsequently, the therapeutic process that works for them is often personal to them, which can makes it difficult to describe exactly how therapy could work for anyone else.

This article aims to help by presenting perspectives of real people who’ve taken therapy and wished to speak about it, in order to provide you with a better understanding of how it could work for you.

#1 It could help enhance your communication skills and the impact these have on your interactions with others

“Therapy has been helpful in developing a sense of agency – it helped me articulate and communicate my thoughts in an effective way, to myself and others in my life. It has made me more active in my pursuit to question my thoughts and patterns, instead of letting them passively affect me in a negative manner. Overall, my relationship with myself is on track to become more positive. Sharing my thoughts with a professional was scary at first, but with consistency, it has become easier to talk. Therapy has been a refreshing, eye-opening experience, as working with a professional gives a space for my perceptions and beliefs to be challenged in a healthy manner. “

#2 It could provide a safe (and brave) space for you to grow into your chosen potential self

“Therapy made me navigate through my feelings and helped me ponder over my actions and their reactions. It taught me to be a little less harsh on myself. It helped me shape a new perspective of the way the world works. It made me evolve as a better version of myself. Having someone to discuss my rational/irrational thoughts without the fear of being judged helped me explore myself. It felt like a safe space and was an outlet channel for me and my problems. I, for the first time, felt heard and understood. Some days I left the room with a completely new and shifted perspective about certain situations and on other days a little less broken. “

#3 It could help you slow down, hold your own space and take some dedicated time for yourself and your needs

“Therapy has helped me focus on myself and instead of finding happiness outside, I’ve started finding it myself. It was a great experience as I met someone who I felt understood me. It gave me a platform to voice my concerns and be comfortable in my own skin.”

#4 It could help you understand just how important taking care of one’s mental health is for overall wellbeing

“Therapy has helped me to bring out a positive voice in myself and I have seen a remarkable difference in how I think and react to things. At first I was skeptical about attending therapy but now I feel that everyone needs to take therapy. I have gotten a lot of insights from my therapist about mind and body. My psychotherapist has been amazing and has supported me throughout my mental health journey, she has been patient with me and it was really great of her to listen to all my breakdowns and miserable things. She makes me feel comfortable and safe to share my experiences and she is always there of me. Working with a mental health professional according to me is amazing and I would definitely recommend therapy to everyone who is fighting the stigma.”

#5 It could be your personal space for reflection and introspection (under guidance and support from an expert on human behaviour)

“This eventually helped me become more self aware of my actions and reactions in my day to day life! It was generally a very supportive environment where I was allowed to take my time and speak what I feel like. Very often it pushed me to reflect and dig deeper on my emotions. This also meant that I was encouraged to explore my emotions on my own instead of being completely guided by the professional. “

#6 It could help boost your self-confidence, self-worth and self-respect

“Therapy has made me more aware of my thoughts and feelings. It made me more capable of dealing with the different situations which were hard to deal with. It was enlightening. working with a mental health professional helped me gain a perspective which was healthy and beneficial for me.”

#7 It could help you manage and regulate your emotions in a better manner

“(Therapy has helped me) In a lot of ways. Earlier, there were sudden outbursts and breakdowns but now I remain calm upto an extent. It’s not that easy when the therapy starts but eventually I opened up, shared my thoughts which I could never share with anyone.”

#8 It could facilitate your empowerment so you know how and when to ask for help when and if you need it

“Being a person who used to hesitate from asking for help, I’ve come a long way- thanks to sessions with my counsellor, I’m a far better version of myself now. I believe that therapy is a process over a period of time. There is always room for improvement and compassion – which is bundled with the experience offered in the session! It’s scary and anxiety-provoking at first, but that’s when the change takes place – I’ve come to know myself better! Having a trained and authentic person by your side helps to see beyond the limits and trust the process.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

This article was written by a mental health professional. But we were humans long before we trained as professionals, and so are always looking to learn better! If you found that any of the above is inaccurate, irrelevant or unhelpful, or would like to suggest ways to make this article more helpful in any way, please let us know in the comments below.

As you might have surmised, the therapeutic space does not possess one size or quality that fits all. It’s also possible that your specific concerns or goals (thought of for yourself or the people around you) may not have been mentioned in this article.  If you haven’t found what you were looking for, please feel free to look at further links (mentioned below) or contact us directly for personalized help.