10 Benefits to Therapy All Year Round
Why every season is a great time to see your therapist.
Therapy is often encouraged when you are going through a tough time or something extreme occurs that you need support for.
However, therapy has amazing mental health and wellness benefits all year round. Sometimes it can feel scary or nerve-wracking to attend therapy. However, the benefits contribute to so many aspects of life. The ultimate goal is to encourage you to live life how you want to - it truly is all about you!
We have compiled a list to discuss ten reasons why therapy is beneficial all year and how it can create positive impacts on your life.
Access a private and safe space to discuss your challenges.
Sometimes, we can't go to our support system for help for a variety of reasons.
Or something may have come up that feels so intense and overwhelming that you don't want to be judged by friends and family by your reaction. Therapy provides a safe, objective and private space to discuss these challenges without judgment. Even more minor stresses that we may feel aren't "big enough" can be discussed confidentially and constructively in therapy. You don't ever have to worry if what you are going through is big enough. Your therapist is there to support you.
Therapy allows you to develop tools and strategies.
Regardless of what challenges come our way, we could all benefit from learning to handle them more effectively.
The ultimate goal of therapy is to move past our challenges in a healthy, positive, and constructive manner. When we approach hardship and challenges in this way, we can relieve the symptoms associated with whatever issues we are going through and start to heal. Healthy strategies and tools benefit all humans who face complex challenges in life that may seem overwhelming at times. Therapy allows you to develop the coping strategies you need to address any mental health concerns and just help you live a better life.
Your physical health benefits from good mental health.
Mental health IS health, so it affects not only our behaviours and thinking patterns but its effects can be physical as well.
For example, if experiencing anxiety, we may feel our breathing becoming more rapid, a tightening in our chest, and the inability to slow down thoughts, therefore causing stress. Stress is a symptom of many health concerns, both physically and mentally. Not only does stress contribute to irritability, burnout, or insomnia, to name a few, but it can cause increased blood pressure, headaches, and body pain in your back and neck. It can also contribute to a higher risk of heart disease. When mental health is managed, it also allows our physical health and well-being to thrive.
Good mental health is linked to better sleep.
Evidence has suggested that improved or excellent mental health can contribute to better sleep.
Disrupted sleep is a common symptom of poor mental health and a lack of sleep may contribute to new mental health concerns. This can show up in many ways - maybe you don't feel rested in the morning, or you find yourself irritable, anxious, or worried throughout the day. When tired, we also tend to have trouble focusing on the tasks at hand. There are many reasons why stress can cause us to lose sleep - whether it is school, work, health, or family - the list can go on. By controlling that stress, you will have less to worry about, so you can focus on getting a good night's sleep.
Increase your sense of personal empowerment.
Reaching out for help can be challenging. When we reach out for support from a therapist, it is not a sign of weakness but courage!
When we are able to make decisions for ourselves, including the decision to feel better about ourselves and work to create the best version of ourselves, that is empowering! Autonomy is something that many individuals struggle with, and therapy can help that. Having your therapist work through your concerns and give you support and tools to handle issues on your own eventually can give you the ultimate power to feel good.
Your therapist can become part of your support system.
Once you attend therapy, you don’t have to deal with your challenges alone.
Part of a therapist's job is to help individuals feel supported and less isolated in coping with their challenges. When facing our problems alone, they are more difficult to overcome, and this is how feelings of isolation can arise. When we feel isolated, more stress can be put on us, making us less likely to open up about what we have experienced. Along with friends and family members, your therapist can support you by actively listening, asking appropriate questions, and then working with you to make a plan towards action.
Therapy can improve relationships and conflict resolution skills.
Let's be honest - nobody likes conflict!
However, avoiding conflict in our relationships is not beneficial either. Therapy can help with this. Improving your relationships with yourself and others can take time, which is normal. Also, these skills are not just limited to your relationships with others but also with yourself. If you feel like you cannot bring up issues or are scared to share how you feel, this sets the tone for how you will interact with others and communicate. Therefore, having a healthy relationship with yourself is essential to having healthy and full relationships with others.
You can get tailored support when processing trauma.
Trauma is a significant reason individuals/couples/families decide to attend therapy.
When issues from our past are not addressed, they can linger in our day-to-day life and severely impact our well-being. Overcoming trauma is not always easy, but your therapist can work with you at your pace to ensure you are comfortable. It is natural to feel uneasy about these traumatic experiences. However, more trauma can be created if you do not address and find the root cause of why you feel this way. Once it is addressed, you can move forward in a way that works for you. This isn't a quick process, so starting therapy and attending year-round allows lots of time to work through these events.
Maintenance is always a good thing!
Maintenance of our mental health and well-being is critical to continued success!
It doesn't matter if we have been going to therapy for days or years; there are always new techniques and tools we can try out to support ourselves better. Sometimes, we need to change things up if we find that old strategies no longer apply to us. Our challenges may change over time; they consistently change. Therefore, what used to be difficult may not be anymore, so the tools and strategies we used in the past are irrelevant to what we are going through today. Like practicing a sport or instrument, we only get better and more self-sufficient the more we choose to reach out, ask questions, and practice!
Therapy is convenient.
‘Traditional’ in-person therapy has changed. You can access therapy when and how you need it.
With the advent of online counselling, you don’t have to worry about taking off time to commute, park and walk into an office. Therapy now allows you to book a mix of in-person and online appointments ensuring you can get the support you need whenever, wherever and however you want. Plus, with daytime, afternoon and evening appointments available, you can schedule that appointment when it is convenient for you and your schedule!
Ultimately, therapy is here to help you in a way that works for you.
As you can see, there are many benefits to therapy all year round that allows you to live your true, authentic life at the end of the day. Therapists and mental health professionals are there to guide you, challenge you, and most importantly, support you through the good times and the not-so-good ones. When you reach out consistently for support, you can ensure you are feeling seen and heard because you matter.
Whatever it is, we’re here for you.
Life is uncertain. Jobs are stressful. Parenting is hard. Relationships take work. Families can be dysfunctional. And sometimes, love hurts. When you’re confronted by feelings, events, or issues that are making your life challenging, it’s okay to ask for some help.
