We wonder if this question has crossed your mind before. Who can go to therapy and for what reason?
“I’m not crazy, I don’t need to see a therapist,” is still a common statement among people, including young adults. Whether we like to admit it or not, the stigma around mental health very much exists.
The fact is that therapy is for everybody. As a mental health clinic, here are the kinds of people who come in for therapy:
1. Anyone Facing Life’s Challenges: Therapy is not reserved for those with severe mental health issues; it’s for anyone facing life’s challenges (and as long as you’re human, this will be part and parcel of life!). Whether you’re dealing with stress at work, relationship issues, or feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day responsibilities, therapy provides a safe space to explore these challenges. A therapist can offer guidance, coping strategies, and a fresh perspective to help you navigate through difficult times.
2. Students Coping with Academic Pressure: The academic journey can be stressful, with students often facing pressure to excel academically, make career decisions, and navigate social relationships. It can all feel too much to handle, especially if things at home aren’t going great either. Seeking therapy during these formative years can contribute to better mental health and overall well-being. There may be questions here either in a parent’s or a child’s head as to how therapy for individuals below 18 years old works. Are parents/guardians involved? Do therapists share what goes on in therapy with parents/guardians? Those are great questions and we’ll cover them in another post!
3. Couples and Families: Therapy isn’t limited to individual sessions; it can also be highly beneficial for couples and families. Relationship dynamics, communication issues, and unresolved conflicts can strain even the healthiest connections. Therapy provides a neutral space for open and honest communication, helping couples and families build stronger bonds, resolve conflicts, and improve overall relationship satisfaction.
4. Those Going Through Life Transitions: Major life transitions, such as a career change, relocation, breakups, entering parenthood, or the loss of a loved one, can be overwhelming. A lot of emotions will come up and adjustments may need to happen during these times. People going through these transitions often come into therapy to process these changes, explore their emotions, and develop coping mechanisms.
5. Anyone Seeking Personal Growth: Therapy isn’t just for those in crisis and we cannot emphasize this more; it’s also for individuals seeking personal growth and self-discovery. Exploring your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a therapist can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, helping you make positive changes and live a more fulfilling life. Therapy can serve as a proactive and empowering tool for personal development. In fact, sometimes the most surprising and fruitful sessions may be those when the client comes in with ‘nothing to talk about’.
Were you surprised by anything on this list of who can go to therapy? Well, we’re not done with this list yet. Stay tuned for part 2.
At ABRI, we provide individual, couples, family and child counselling. If you are looking to start your mental health journey with us, you can reach out via Whatsapp or our enquiry form on our Contact Us page.
Written by Weii Yie
Weii Yie is an associate therapist at ABRI where she primarily provides therapy to adults and adolescents. Her love for writing and passion for mental health are translated into these blog posts. Read more about who she is as a therapist on the Team page.