Benefits of Individual Counseling
Benefits of Individual Counseling
“I don’t need therapy, I don’t need counseling! I don’t have an illness!” I hear this often and it’s unfortunately how many people associate these two things together – individual counseling and illness.
While it is often used to address mental illness or substance addiction, individual counseling offers benefits. When you decide to go to therapy, you take a big step toward improving your mental health. With the help of a therapist, you may achieve goals such as developing new coping mechanisms, working through trauma from your past, coping with family situations, stress and so much more.
As you work toward these goals, you may gain additional benefits along the way. Below are four examples of the ways in which going to individual therapy can change your life.
You Can Learn How to Talk About Hard Things
Many people struggle to have discussions lead to negative feelings. No one likes to feel badly. I get it.
People choose to change the subject – or get up and walk away from the conversation entirely – instead of opening up during these conversations This avoidance of difficult conversations can lead to unresolved problems for a person’s mental health – and relationships!
For individualized therapy to work, you might have to talk about some of the most challenging topics that you may be avoiding or have avoided for years. By talking to a therapist about these issues, you can learn to have difficult discussions in healthy ways, and may start to reconsider how old patterns of thinking are keeping you stuck.
At first, you may notice it’s easier to talk to your therapist about these things. Over time, these conversations can get easier with family and friends as well. This important life skill can serve you for years to come.
Your Health May Begin to Improve
We often see mental health struggles lead to stress and sleep issues. These all take a toll on your physical health. As therapy helps improve your mental health, you may also notice a significant change in your stress levels and sleeping habits. These improvements can cause other benefits to your health like decreased blood pressure, stronger immune system, improved strength, lower levels of pain/tension. And so much more!
Long story short, people who feel better mentally start to see changes in their physical well-being!
Improved Empathy – for Yourself and Others
Although your therapist is a vital member of your team, they likely won’t agree with you on everything. They will challenge your thoughts and actions, giving you the chance to look at a situation from a different point-of-view.
This change in perspective can help you develop more empathy for yourself and others. If you have negative thoughts about yourself, your therapist may challenge you to talk about yourself the way you would talk about your best friend. In turn providing a kinder way to be to yourself.
Take Responsibility
Confronting your issues with honesty allows you the clarity to understand their complexities, which will ultimately allow you to take responsibility for your life and your actions. Whether you’re struggling with relationship issues, addiction, depression, you will be in a safe and comfortable environment to explore such issues and learn how to handle them.
Develop a Fresh Perspective
Individual therapy gives you the chance to explore conscious or subconscious habits, emotions, and behaviors that could be causing you harm (example: depression, anxiety, self-criticism, substance abuse, negative relationships). Together, you and your therapist can help you establish a fresh perspective to understand those behaviors that are not positively serving you.
If you’re ready to witness the benefits of individual therapy first-hand, contact us today.
We can help you start feeling better and give you the care you deserve.
