People have all kinds of opinions about therapy. Some people are raving fans; others think it’s a bunch of nonsense. Many people think “Therapy is great — for other people 😉”
No matter where you’re coming from, starting therapy (which, given that you’re reading this article, you may be considering) can be tricky. You may feel overwhelmed, embarrassed, or maybe you’re unsure if it will even help. You may figure you can just handle things on your own.
The reality is that we’re just not wired to deal with life alone. The need to give and receive help is part of what makes us human! Sometimes you’re the one ugly crying; others you’re holding the tissue box. And when you’re feeling down, support from family and friends can go a long way. But there are times when our go-to sources of comfort don’t quite cut it. Despite our best efforts and/or the passage of time, we still don’t feel 100%.
Like your BFF, a therapist provides a great listening ear. Unlike your BFF, a therapist is actually trained to help you understand your emotions, provide judgement-free insights, and make connections between past experiences and current behaviors. They can also provide tools to help you manage stress and anxiety, and strengthen skills needed to make, repair or preserve healthy relationships.
Does talking to a therapist mean you are weak? Broken? Messed up? Of course not! Studies have consistently shown that therapy can benefit anyone, regardless of age, gender, class or setting. To loosely paraphrase Dean Martin, “Everybody [needs a therapist] sometimes.”
Therapy isn’t just about fixing problems. Even if we think we’re emotionally fit, a good therapist can help us learn to be a better parent or friend, increase our patience and compassion with ourselves and others, and make sense of our reactions to our often tumultuous world. On one hand, therapy is just about us learning to be better humans, which, no matter where you’re coming from, is a worthwhile goal.
On the other hand, you may have a sense that something specific is amiss in your life and are looking for answers. Symptoms of struggling mental health can be hard to recognize. If you’re wondering if therapy might help, ask yourself these questions:
If you give one or more of those questions a strong “yes,” talking with a therapist may be the perfect way to understand what is going on and develop a plan to get back to feeling like your best self. Get Started
Big life events should also be considered if you notice significant changes in your mood or behavior. Any of these can cause major stress, or they may stir up uncomfortable feelings of difficult, past experiences. These major events can include:
If any of these situations is part of your current or past experience, it would be a great idea to talk through it with a therapist. Together, you and your therapist can discover how/if these experiences may currently affect your life, and develop a plan to resolve or handle them in a positive way.
If you need help, get it from a licensed therapist however works best for you. The most important thing is that you get the quality support you need to live a happy, fulfilling, mentally healthy life.
That said, the Tava Health platform is an ideal solution for many people:
It’s free to use — If your employer offers Tava Health as an employee benefit, the cost of your sessions is completely covered. No claims, no co-pays, no deductibles.
It’s convenient — You can schedule appointments days, evenings, or weekends. Tava sessions are through online video, which means no travel, no baby/dog sitting, no awkward waiting room, etc. (Does online therapy work? Yes, yes it does)
It helps you find a good therapist — Some mental health networks or platforms do not thoroughly vet their providers, which can result in discouraging experiences. Tava therapists go through a rigorous application process and ongoing training on best practices.
It helps you find the right therapist — It’s also important that your therapist is the right fit for your situation and personality. When you sign up with Tava, you are matched with a therapist based on your needs, and we continue to ensure that you work with a therapist that works for you. (Read more: how to select a therapist)
It’s confidential — Although your employer pays for your therapy, they don’t see who uses the service. Everything discussed stays between you and your therapist.
Bottom line
If you feel like your mental health or well-being could use a boost, there many things you can do to help it. The one thing you almost certainly shouldn’t do, is do it on your own.
Reach out to those you love and trust. Talk about your experience and struggle. And don’t hesitate to take advantage of your Tava Health benefit, where you can connect with someone trained to help you live your best life. You may be surprised at the good it can do 👍.
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