Why You Should Consider Therapy
When people often think of therapy they think you only go when you are in crisis, or “crazy”. People see therapy as a reactive option rather than preventive measure. When I worked at a crisis stablization hosptial with patients ranging from severe mental illness to college students who had a breakdown I quickly realized that “life” happens to everyone. The only thing that is a significant difference between those inside the hospital and those outside is that those inside couldn’t manage their emotions, triggers, illness or environment on their own. To be honest, often times those who do not believe in therapy or thing they are “too good” for therapy are usually the ones who should go the most. If used properly therapy can be an effective tool to help you assess, cope, problem solve, and change your problematic behaviors. Although, therapy is not only for those dealing with diagnosed mental illnesses it can be extremely helpful for those dealing with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders etc,
As a social worker I am a HUGE advocate for therapy. I believe that talking to an unbiased professional about your issues can help you see them in a different light. So often we try to overcome on our own when we do not have to. Therapist are trained professionals who are equipped to walk you through your dilemmas not to tell you what to do, but to help you figure out what you think is best for you to do. Needing therapy does not make you weak, but strong in my opinion because you realized that you are unable to cope on your own and are willing to seek help. Knowing when you need help shows a strength unlike any other in my book.
There are so many resources available to those in need of help so you do not need to suffer on your own.
Benefits of therapy include:
Allowing you a space to be open and honest with yourself without judgement
Time to process through your emotions
Pin point the root cause of past issues and how they are manifesting in your life presently.
Allow you to check your reality and assess properly
Engaging with a person who is knowledgeable in providing help and is not connected to you.
Gives you a better outlook on life and a better overall mental health
Therapy is accessible to all and can be used outside of crisis situations. Talking to someone before a crisis situation helps can increase your ability to cope, your resiliency and how you view the situation overall. Lets go into the New Year routinely prioritizing our mental health!
If you are looking for a therapist/ resources:
Therapy for Black Girls Directory- The Therapist Directory is a listing of mental health professionals across the country who provide high quality, culturally competent services to Black women and girls. This directory is not at all exhaustive and is meant to provide you with a place to start if you are looking for a therapist in your area.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective- Our nonprofit serves clients who lack health insurance or whose health insurance doesn’t provide adequate mental health benefits. These clients also cannot afford current market rates for therapy (between $80-200 a session). We help our members access their choice of affordable in-person care from a vetted mental health professional.
Loveland Foundation - Loveland Therapy Fund provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy nationally.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)- Most jobs have EAP as an option for their employees. These are counseling service not only available to you, but also to your immediate family. The amount of sessions typically range anywhere from 6-8 sessions and they are FREE.
So if we are summarizing who needs therapy the answer is EVERYONE! Whether you are dealing with a small crisis or a paralyzing diagnosis. Therapy can be the bridge to help you get from one place to the other simply by being open to talk about your needs.
None of these resources are meant to be a catch all and I do not endorse any of them in any way, but it is a start to begin your search. However, if you are in a crisis situation do not use these sites, contact 1 (800) 273-8255 or 911 for immediate help.
