Written by Jessica Springer, LCSW
The better question is why not? Many people who receive counseling discover that the idea of being in therapy is worse than the actual experience. The reasons people avoid therapy are endless—does it mean I’m broke or crazy, will people think I’m unsafe, that’s only for suicidal people, I can’t afford it—but yet they remain unhappy with some element in their life. Why not consider a different route?
I think what you will find is that at one point or another in our life we have to accept help from somebody outside of our immediate support group. And let’s face it, sometimes families and friends are not the best helpers when it comes to responding to your struggles in a rational, calm manner. They can’t be. They have too much invested in you to set aside their own emotions and beliefs to help you achieve your goals in life. This is the reason therapists can’t treat their own family or friends; our emotions, usually fears, get in the way. Let your family and friends be just that, family and friends. They can support you, hear you vent, offer suggestions, give you a hug or a long-deserved escape. And when whatever you are struggling with within your own mind and heart becomes too much, gets in the way of your sleep or relationships, or is eating at you for too long, it is time to make a call.
Why wait until it becomes a crisis, divorce, being fired from a job, or court date? Therapists, believe it or not, are just as human as you. Our lives have fallen apart, we have made choices we regret, and we have responded in ways that were not helpful in our own lives. Not only do we understand, we also have some dang good education and training to help you move forward in life to reach whatever your goal may be, not our goal for you. It’s not just about breaking the stigma or the silence; it’s about the peace, the clarity, or the strength that you earned.
Jessica Springer is a Behavioral Health Therapist who sees patients of all ages at NorthLakes Community Clinic – Turtle Lake. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment in Turtle Lake, or one of our many other clinics that offer counseling, please call 888.834.4551.
