While therapy is becoming more acceptable in our society, there can still be assumptions and stigma around counselling and therapy and who goes.

In the past, therapy has had a bad rap where people have placed distance between themselves and individuals that went to therapy for help. As a result, there were people who went to therapy and people who did not go to therapy.

Advertising campaigns, grassroots social media accounts, and initiatives such as Bell Let’s Talk Day (Bell Canada) have helped raise awareness that mental health matters. As mental health information becomes more available and accessible, more people then seek support from counsellors and mental health practitioners.

It can be hard to ask for help, admit when we do not know something, or seek guidance from another person. Society has encouraged us to show only one side of ourselves - independent, tough, and able to “do it all.” However, every human experiences their own struggles, pains, and challenges.

When is a good time to start therapy?

Making the decision to start therapy can be a big one, but it does not have to be. What is important is to consider what you’re hoping to feel from going to therapy.

We are all unique humans with individual needs. Exploring therapy and getting support from a counsellor or mental health professional can help bring a fresh perspective, clarity, guidance and support to your inner world experience.

Feeling maxed out, over-stretched and overworked.

Going to therapy can take a lot of courage and awareness, and you do not have to be in distress before putting your care needs first.

So why do we wait till things become too much or feel like we are maxed out, over-stretched or overworked before we give ourselves permission to ask for help or seek outside support?

A statement that I hear often is that one does not want to “take space from another person who may need it more.”

Taking up space is a common theme in so many areas of counselling and day-to-day life and one we often encounter in counselling sessions. One important thing to remember is that not everyone needs to be in distress or have experienced a significant event or trauma before going to counselling and asking for support.

Seven reasons you may want to try therapy:

There are many reasons why one could make their way to counselling or therapy. Here are some of the themes for you to consider exploring in therapy to help strengthen your awareness and connection with yourself:

1. Feeling a sense of stuck or stagnant in your day-to-day life.
2. To discover and explore your values and strengths.
3. To deepen your inner wisdom and understanding of your motivation and desires.
4. Increasing body awareness through the mind-body connection.
5. For creative exploration and expression of feelings and emotions.
6. To navigate difficult conversations, experiences and situations.
7. To deepen your relationships with yourself and others.

Change is possible.

These are just a few themes to give you a place to start as you consider beginning therapy. So whether you are new to therapy, looking for a fresh start, or interested in a deeper understanding of yourself, it can be helpful to check out therapists in your area and see if you find someone you connect with.

Remember, you don’t have to wait until you are distressed before seeking a better connection with yourself.

Until next time,

- Bethany

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