When should I start therapy? Is this the right time? Is psychotherapy only for people with mental health problems? These are some questions that sometimes arise when we think about starting therapy. The beginning of the therapeutic process can be preceded by fears, anxieties and uncertainties. Starting therapy is always a difficult decision, which requires some time for reflection and consideration. In this article, we will reflect on the beginning of therapy.
Psychotherapy (often referred to as therapy) is one ethically informed psychological treatment based on scientific principles theoretically framed within the context of the therapeutic relationship with the purpose of not only reducing psychological suffering, but also promoting personal and individual's well-being, and allow them to make more free and conscious choices.
There are different models and theoretical orientations and, therefore, several psychotherapeutic approaches. To help the client, the therapist may use one or more approaches.
Nowadays, therapy can take place in different modalities, the most common being in-person format (in the therapist's office) and online (from a video call with the psychologist). Ivory therapy has an article that can explain how online therapy works.
Psychotherapy aims to improve our mental health and well-being. However, it is true that it can be difficult to ask for help when we are not feeling well. And it's also natural for us to have doubts about whether we really need to seek help. However, the first step is to recognize that it might be important to talk to the psychologist. We don't have to be strong and stable all the time. There are times when, just like our physical health, our mental health needs help. Sometimes, we still feel ashamed or afraid to recognize our weaknesses and talk about what we are feeling, because we think “it's all in my head” or we are afraid of people thinking we are “crazy”.
Stigma is still a reality that prohibits the search for help. However, psychological support exists to address our emotions, feelings, thoughts and our daily problems. Therapists are professionals who have specialized in psychotherapy and can help us reflect and deal with our concerns. Ivory therapy, for example, has a team of specialized professionals who can help us improve our mental health.
How do we look for a psychologist?
Currently, from a brief search on the internet we can find several psychologists and psychotherapists. However, it is important to select our therapist carefully. We must confirm that the therapist has a professional certificate. This way, we ensure that you belong to a certified Order, such as the Order of Portuguese Psychologists. On the Ivory therapy website there is an article about how we can find a good psychologist.
But should I really start therapy? There are several reasons for starting therapy. We can seek help from a psychologist when we would like something to be different in our lives, but we are unable to make that change alone. Therapy is not just for people with mental health problems. This is useful even when there is no diagnosis or mental health disorder.
We can all benefit in some way from psychotherapy. There are several external problems, which contain an affective dimension. Therapy can help in these situations, but also with difficulties in relationships with others, mental health problems (such as anxiety, depression, stress, a phobia, a traumatic situation) or with significant events that occur in our lives (as example, a divorce, a diagnosis of illness, a situation of violence, a grieving process, marriage, a change of house or country, the birth of a child, retirement or unemployment).
We can all seek therapy at any age or situation in our lives. However, it is important to remain aware of some signs that indicate that we may need therapy to improve our mental health. Namely, 1) intense and lasting anxiety, anguish, and fear; 2) persistent feelings of sadness; 3) panic sensations/attacks; 4) low self-esteem; 5) difficulties concentrating (at school, in the workplace, in activities of daily living); 6) anhedonia or lack of pleasure in performing leisure activities; 7) lack of motivation; 8) changes in sleeping patterns or eating habits; 9) excessive consumption of alcohol and substances; 10) extreme and constant mood swings (easily becoming angry, irritated or aggressive or showing intense states of euphoria); 11) manifesting risky behaviors against ourselves or others (for example, suicide attempts, fights, aggression); 12) isolation (we tend to avoid friends and family very often); 13) intense stress or overload; 14) feeling of emptiness, lack of hope and intense despair.
Although it is very important to pay attention to the signs mentioned above, we do not need to wait for a crisis situation to ask for help. In contrast, the sooner we seek help, the better, as psychotherapy will be more effective in resolving our concerns. Therefore, it is important not to ignore warning signs or the feeling that “something is not right with me”.
Be aware that discomfort can sometimes manifest itself through our body. It is important to be aware of persistent headaches, stomach aches, nausea, loss of appetite or voracious food intake (binge eating). Our body is closely linked to our mind, so when we are not feeling well, our feeling of discomfort often manifests itself through bodily sensations and pain. It is important to stop and listen to our body.
Psychotherapy is an encounter that heals. Based on dialogue between client and psychologist – within the therapeutic relationship between them – the objective of therapy is change. However, this does not only translate into symptoms or personal concerns. On the contrary, change can affect a process of promoting self-knowledge (self-awareness), and personal development and important skills, such as emotional intelligence. Furthermore, therapy also works to prevent mental illness!
In short, there is no linear answer to the question: when should I start therapy? We can seek help from a psychologist at any age in our lives, even without experiencing a mental illness. Therapy can help us self-regulate our emotions and improve our quality of life and well-being. It is important to pay attention to the signs mentioned in the article and listen to how they can manifest themselves on a bodily level. However, it is up to each of us to listen to ourselves and be proactive in seeking psychological help. Despite the stigma still existing in society associated with mental health, it is as important as physical health. If we go to the doctor when we break an arm, why can't we go to the psychologist when we feel sad, tired, frustrated or immensely angry?
Therapy is scientifically effective in improving our mental health and is currently accessible to many of us. There is no right time to start therapy, however scientific evidence highlights that the sooner the therapeutic process begins, the quicker we feel therapeutic gains. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the signs and have the courage to ask for help, as the psychologist can, in fact, help us.
