Unfortunately, therapy is usually looked at as only an option for people who don’t have anywhere else to turn. There’s a stigma attached to therapy that if someone talks to a therapist, they must be ‘crazy’ or unable to manage their own lives. But, everyone needs a little guidance. And, there’s absolutely no shame in telling people how we feel; which is basically what therapy is. In fact, some people already think of their friends or family as their therapists – using the people they love as an outlet. However, while it’s common to look to loved ones for emotional support, it might not always be your best option. And, there are situations in which a therapist offering support is more likely to help or be available. In this article, we’ll determine 5 reasons to see a therapist when you need that emotional outlet, rather than a loved one.

Available for You When You Need it Most

One of the best reasons to see a therapist is that it’s very convenient. Your best friends, parents, or even significant other may not be there to hear you out every time you need it. Your loved ones have their own worries, jobs, and responsibilities to worry about. So, they may not always be able to stop what they’re doing and put what they’re going through on hold to provide you with the emotional support you need. But, it’s a therapist’s job to give you support. And, be there when you need them – even if it’s last minute. So, having a therapist means having someone there for you when you need it most.

You Can Be Authentically You

5 Reasons to See a Therapist Instead of “Talking” to Your FriendsWhen it comes to talking to your friends or family about your problems, you may wish to sugarcoat or underestimate them. This can be in fear of their judgment or protect yourself from their pity. Furthermore, you may not feel comfortable with sharing everything like things you keep secret. But, a conversation with a therapist is always private and 100% confidential. This means you can have conversations and talk about things with your therapist you would otherwise not be able to with loved ones.

You’ll Get Complete and Absolute Attention on You

When you have conversations with loved ones, they’re not always one-sided. While your friends and family try to be there for you, they also expect you to reciprocate the effort. Certainly, during a typical conversation, even one about how you’re feeling or what you’re going through, you’ll have to listen to the person you’re speaking to. This can include listening to them tell you advice, a story about a time they may have experienced something similar, or even changing the conversation to something completely different. However, during a therapy session, the floor is yours. It’s a time when you’re welcome and encouraged to share without having to listen to someone else’s opinion or judgment. And, it’s a time that’s all your own.

You Control the Outcome of Conversations

When it comes to talking to family or loved ones, you may get advice that you didn’t ask for. And, feel compelled to consider or even take this advice in your own life. But, the point of therapy is to determine outcomes for yourself. Essentially, therapy can help you identify things and make decisions because the conversation held is about what you want and where you want your life to go – not what someone else wants for your life. Your therapist won’t boss you around as your family may, nor will he or she make you decide anything while you’re in therapy.

You May Enjoy It

Due to the stigma therapy carries, many people may have preconceptions about therapy as it’s a bad thing. Or, something that people should dread or find boring. However, people go to therapy because it works. And, it helps them to develop helpful skills they can use in everyday life. Thus, improving quality of life and greatly helping people with things they may have been dealing with for their whole lives. So, before you knock therapy, remember that you might even like it if you’re ever to try it.

Reasons to See a Therapist at SouthCoast Psychiatric Services

Here at SouthCoast, we offer a number of different types of therapy to help people dealing with all types of issues. While we offer individual therapy for typical one-on-one therapy sessions, we offer specific types of individual therapy to help individual address things like:

Find out more about the types of therapy we offer. And, contact us today to learn about how we can help you or a loved one by calling 561-241-6628.

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