Did you know that more Americans are seeking mental health treatment? It’s easy to feel hesitant, especially if you’ve never tried any type of counseling before. As the number of options grows, it’s easier and more affordable than ever to try individual therapy.
This guide is here to explore the top five benefits of individual therapy. From improving your overall quality of life to increasing productivity, it’s easy to see why many people rely on therapy.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.
1. Change How You Interact With People
As we go through the motions of life, it can be difficult to navigate our relationships. Sometimes we don’t see when others are negatively impacting our life or vice versa.
We may react angrily with our partners and forget after the fight, not realizing the impact it’s had on them. On the flip side, we get used to people pushing us around and sometimes have a hard time standing up for ourselves when necessary.
The right therapist will help you find a balance with how you interact with people, helping you improve your relationship with loved ones. It can also be helpful to hear another person’s input on the tough relationships in your life. Maybe you’re doing everything right, but there are still ways to improve your connections.
Individual therapy will provide the resources and tools to make the changes you need to positively impact the way you interact with others.
2. Rewire Your Brain for the Better
Some people are under the misconception that once your brain is fully developed, it’s almost impossible to reconfigure it. The good news is that therapy can bring change and rewire your brain for the better. In the same way that medication helps depression, talk therapy does the same.
Psychotherapy has been proven to change activity in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala. All of these areas are responsible for your “me-centered” anxious thoughts, emotion, and fear.
One of the most effective methods of therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy. This helps you navigate any negative thought patterns that you may fall back on naturally and rewire them with more positive mental habits. You’ll notice your depression and anxiety decrease, two conditions that were assumed to be a permanent aspect of our brains.
3. You’ll Feel Happier and More Productive
Unfortunately, many Americans are not so happy right now. In fact, only 14% describe themselves as very happy.
Although achieving true happiness is challenging, you can always get closer than expected. Money, fancy cars, a giant house, all of those things can help for a bit, but they aren’t really what will bring you joy. Although not having enough money can cause unhappiness, too much doesn’t automatically make our lives more fulfilling.
The real way to achieve happiness requires more importance and breadth than buying new trinkets.
Individual therapy allows you to talk about your past, present, and future with someone who is there to listen. The right therapist guides you to a greater self-understanding and self-compassion, which makes it easier to tackle those bumps in the road.
There will always be tough scenarios to live through; you want to avoid getting stuck in a maze of negativity. As you become more compassionate and accepting, you’re more likely to seek more health-promoting behaviors. This will naturally lead to a better quality of life and happiness.
4. Learn Coping Skills
Coping skills help you navigate tough times, whether you got fired from your job, have social anxiety, or are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Everyone is unique so your coping skills won’t be the same as others. Individual therapy can help foster natural coping skills so you can handle bumps in the road with ease.
Outside of your natural coping skills, therapists can also help you with skills that aren’t innate. You might learn that what you say to yourself has a big influence on how you feel or that you should think differently about how you interact with others in your life.
Being encouraged to treat yourself with positive regard and self-acceptance will help boost your personal strengths. Better coping leads to better responses and better experiences which can help you in creating a happier life.
5. Improve Your Stress
It’s no secret that stress is not only a mental health problem but also a physical concern. Therapy can help teach you different ways to calm your mind and body. There are techniques such as deep breathing, progressive relaxation, meditation and guided visualization to help you to deal with your stress in healthier ways.
You’ll come to understand that there are many things in your life that are beyond your control, and knowing how to cope is a big aspect of reducing suffering. This short-term stress relief can help become long-term stress management.
Benefits of Individual Therapy
Talking to a professional for an individual therapy session is a great way to improve the quality of your life. As wonderful as group therapy is, it’s hard to beat receiving individual attention. No matter what you’re dealing with in life, individual therapy can help you.
There are a variety of treatment styles, from cognitive behavioral therapy to psychodynamic therapy; each is utilized depending on the therapist and your situation. These therapy styles combined with a comforting space are sure to change your life for the better.
If you’ve been looking for the right therapist in Westchester, NY, look no further than Carol Pironi of Harbor Counseling. Be sure to contact us today to book a free consultation!