Therapy is For Everyone – 5 Ways It Can Improve Your Overall Health

According to the American Psychological Association, psychotherapy helps people live happier, healthier and more productive lives. Psychologists apply research-based techniques to help people develop more effective habits.

There are several approaches and collaborative treatments to psychotherapy, including cognitive, behavioural, interpersonal and psychodynamic, among others, which help people work through their problems.

There is no shame in seeing a physician/doctor when one is suffering from fever or gastrointestinal issues. Also, regular body check-ups are advised even in the absence of serious or physical illnesses.

But unfortunately, there is still shame and guilt associated with seeing a therapist or mental health professional, with or without a mental illness.

Also Read: Break the Stigma Around Mental Health; Here Are 8 Everyday Things You Can Do!

It is a myth that therapy is only for people suffering from serious mental health issues. Further, it needs to be acknowledged that therapy is a great preventive way which further aids one’s emotional well-being. It can create wonders in one’s life and has advantages which can improve the overall health.

Here are some ways in which therapy is beneficial.

1. Therapy can aid in self-awareness

At times, there are deep layers in a person’s inner self which are unknown to them and therefore, can be the cause of various things happening in their life. Therapy helps not only to uncover repressed memories from their unconscious but also ways to deal with them effectively. It makes the person more self-aware, by reducing the gap between the “real” and the “ideal” selves which can further reduce various conflicts in their life.

2. Therapy can help to foster relationships

Therapy can help not only to know yourself better and reaffirm a sense of self-love, but even help build and maintain good relationships with your loved ones. It allows one to trust and be transparent and thus, improving the quality of one’s relationships.

3. Therapy can help to manage and express deep emotions

It can sometimes be difficult to share one’s deep emotions, feelings and thoughts with others. Therapy provides a safe and non-judgemental environment where the therapist holds unconditional positive regard for each client. The patient listener in a therapist with whom we can share deep and uncomfortable things, not only provide a sense of relief to a client, but goes a long way in helping them overcome difficult situations.

It helps one to understand strong emotions like anger, fear, grief, etc., by addressing the cause of the emotion, rather than just the way of expression. It helps one to channelise and regulate these emotions in a constructive, healthy and acceptable way.

4. Therapy can help to gain clarity

The experience of a safe environment where one can unburden troubles, discuss confusions, share deep emotions can help achieve a better perspective of oneself and the various aspects and relationships integral to one’s life.

5. Therapy can help to improve the quality of life

It can help heal pain from painful experiences in the past, reduce anxieties about what the future holds and eventually, return the individual to focus and live in the present. An improvement in mental health reflects in a sense of overall well-being.

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Counselling help can be sought from mental health clinics. Some of the reliable sources for availing help for counselling, can be sought from a resource that iCall has put together.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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