Uncategorized

What Is Therapy? Should I Go to Therapy & What Are My First Steps

Now, more than ever, you’ll hear people talking about going to therapy on social media and in real life. Everyone can benefit from therapy, and it’s fantastic that people have started being so open about their mental health care. If you haven’t gone to therapy in the past, you may not be sure where to start. There are so many reasons therapy is worth your time, and we want to demystify the process so you can get started on your mental health journey. 

If you’re on the fence about therapy, there’s no pressure to make any decisions about it at this moment. Let’s look at what happens in a therapy session so you can start to visualize what everyone has been talking about when they talk about therapy. 

What Happens in Therapy?

During a session, a licensed mental health professional will greet you and get to know what’s been going on in your world. The time you put into therapy sessions will always have a purpose. Your objective might be to address grief, confront feelings of depression and anxiety, set boundaries, or overcome personal roadblocks. Everyone has different reasons for wanting to go to therapy, and they are all valid. 

As you chat about what’s on your mind, your therapist’s goal is to help guide you toward better emotional well-being. 

Here are a few more answers to the question, “What is therapy?”

A Judgment-Free Zone

Therapists value connecting with you as a person, and they strive to build a therapeutic relationship founded on trust and honesty in each session. You’re free to let anything off of your chest. You deserve a therapy setting that welcomes your honesty with positivity and builds a sense of trust over time. 

An Environment To Address The Icky Things

We’ve all had days where we were feeling down. It’s even worse to feel like mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, grief, or anxiety are sticking around while the rest of your life goes on. 

Therapy provides a context for you to let those hard experiences and feelings out. Health professionals like therapists are dedicated to helping you feel heard, and together, you can develop coping skills to help you process and move forward. 

A Place To Check-In With Yourself

Many people continue going to therapy even after they’ve met their personal goals. They enjoy the routine practice of exploring their lives and uncovering new ways to grow. It’s always helpful to strive towards being the best version of yourself. 

Even if you aren’t experiencing mental health symptoms, you may find that therapy provides you with tools to confront life’s general moments of anxiety and pain. Like a routine physical check-up, periodically going to therapy appointments is a way to check in on your mental health to make sure your mental health is in tip-top shape.

How to Know When to Go to Therapy

Many life circumstances can help you decide to give therapy a try. While therapy can be beneficial for people experiencing mental health conditions or recovering from trauma, there are many other reasons you may choose to book your first appointment.

Let’s talk about some signs that it may be time to consider therapy.  

You’re Feeling Ready for Change

We’ve all had times when we realized we need to make changes in our lives. Those moments can be incredibly uncomfortable and hard to manage without help. Thoughts like “I can’t live like this anymore” or “There has to be more than this” are signs you may be ready to make a change. 

If you’re tired of following the same patterns, consider exploring your feelings of frustration with a skilled therapist who cares. They’ll help you to identify blind spots and areas where you can grow for yourself and others. 

You’d Like to Address Back-Burner Feelings

You might feel confused as to why negative memories, emotions, or associations have stuck with you for many years. Unaddressed words and actions from memories can simmer over time when we leave them on the back burner. 

You might have forgotten about certain wounds, but their essence could be quietly spreading negative thoughts, trauma, and anxiety throughout your inner world. 

Are you ready to confront the past? A therapist can help ease you into the process of acknowledging long-buried feelings and help you move past disruptive behavior that may have arisen as a result. 

You Want to Manage Your Depression and Anxiety

Therapy can help you manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, helping you enjoy your life more fully again.

Therapists know that healing involves caring for yourself, and they often refer their clients to psychiatrists to get medical and mental health needs met. Some people avoid seeking this kind of care because of expensive fees. Fortunately, affordable mental health care options are available to help you get started without stressing over money.

What Are My First Steps?

First and foremost, you need to choose the type of therapy you’d like to pursue. Traditional talk therapy—also known as psychotherapy—has many subcategories like interpersonal therapy (IPT), group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Other forms of therapy may be helpful either in conjunction with a psychotherapist or alone, such as art therapy, music therapy, or light therapy. 

Maybe you’ve already known for a while that therapy is what’s next for you. In that case, you’re probably wondering how to get started. The way to access treatment has changed even in the past several years. 

The amazing technology we have available today facilitates online therapy sessions that are accessible to those who may have otherwise been uncomfortable seeking help. 

Let’s discuss what others have done in the past and how you can get started today.

The Traditional Route

In the past, finding mental health care traditionally included searching aimlessly for a skilled clinician and making phone calls to check for compatibility with your insurance plan. Then, you’d show up and hope for the best.

Things are getting better, but they’re not perfect. Today, If you want to see a therapist in person, you’ll still need to search for the right one. Social media and the internet made this search more straightforward, so you can find therapists or psychologists that practice in your area, see their specialties, and discover what insurance coverage they accept. Getting the help you need is worth that effort, but we think there’s an easier way.

How Mood Health Creates a Better Path

We know better than anyone that you don’t have the time to scroll through dozens of web pages searching for the right mental health care provider. That’s why we started dreaming up solutions to help you reach your goals and take care of your mental health sooner. 

At Mood Health, we’re passionate about your experience with finding a good therapist and getting the medication you need to function at your best. 

Here’s how we can work together:

  1. Let Us Get to Know You: We like to staff our partnership with you by completing a quiz. This quiz will let us know your individual mental health care needs, modality, and specific challenges. 

  2. Consider Psychiatry and Talk Therapy: You’ll have the option to participate in both mental health care settings or choose one if that suits your needs. Our talk therapy sessions start at just $39 for your first session, and our psychiatry subscription begins at $45 for your first month. These prices are much more affordable than in-person sessions.

  3. Working With Your Practitioner: We’re passionate about providing you with accessible, stress-free therapy and mental health treatment. To get the most out of your therapy and psychiatry experiences, actively engage your provider’s treatment plan details in your first session together. Take your medicine, do any homework, and remember the topics you discuss throughout your week.

We’ve Been There

We started Mood Health because we’re well-acquainted with mental health struggles and understand that there are many people out there looking for affordable, quality care.

You’ll find high-quality mental health care providers at Mood Health who are human, just like you. You won’t have to worry about careless providers or confusing scheduling. We want to make your experience with therapy an enjoyable one.

We Designed a Stress-Free Process to Find Your Clinician

At Mood, we know having a bad first therapy session can deter you from seeking future care. That’s why we’ve worked to make it easy to find a therapist who fits your needs and preferences. If you discover that your provider isn’t the best match, our platform will help connect you with someone who may better suit your needs. 

Concluding Thoughts

Going to sessions with a committed professional therapist is an exceptional act of self-care. At Mood, we make it easier than ever to embark on your therapeutic journey. So go ahead and invest in your mental well-being. We think you’ll be happy you did.

 

Sources:

Therapy | Psychology Today

APA Topics: Therapy | APA

Different approaches to psychotherapy | APA 

Why Should I Go to Therapy? 8 Signs It’s Time to See a Therapist | Good Therapy