HEALTH

Therapy for Mental Wellness

Why you deserve it and what to do when you can’t afford it.

Jocelyn Merrill is an educator and freelance writer-for-hire specializing in guest posts, blogging services, and copywriting. She has a passion for fitness, mental wellness and culturally responsive education. When she isn’t teaching, writing or teaching writing, you can find her chasing after her toddler. Find out more at jocelynmerrill.com and justworkingitout.com.

Life comes with many unfamiliar turns – some of which bring us joy and others stress. Finding a trusted therapist can help navigate many of life’s twists and turns. The negative stigmas surrounding mental illness have finally started to change as we embrace mental wellness and acknowledge that some days, weeks and months are going to be tougher than others.

Why You Deserve It

For a long time, the misconception was that talk therapy is only for those who live with a mental illness such as anxiety, depression, or mood disorders. Now practitioners and patients alike acknowledge that therapy is not exclusive to those categories. Terri L. White, a licensed practicing counselor from White Diamond Counseling Consulting, explains “When clients attend therapy regularly, they are able to work with less stress, manage family issues, understand their role in relationships, and bring balance to their daily life.”

What you learn about yourself with your therapist can help you build a toolkit for what to do in those moments that challenge rational thoughts and reactions. Demetria M. Jackson, a licensed marriage and family therapist of Free to Flourish Counseling, says that therapy is “not just a form of self-care, but self-discovery that allows you to go through a process of recognizing the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that are showing up in your life.”

According to the American Psychiatry Association, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in particular, sets the framework for changing our outlooks and thought patterns by replacing what’s negative and unhelpful with “more accurate thoughts and functional behaviors.” According to the American Psychological Association, talk therapy, particularly for those who live with conditions such as anxiety and depression, “leads to fewer relapses of anxiety and mild to moderate depression than medication use alone.”

Therapy and Women

More women are seeing the value in setting aside time for self-care and therapy, which can be the ultimate form of self-care and preservation. Demetria says that “women tend to be the nurturers” and “are often on the front lines of taking care of others at the expense of ourselves. Women are now dealing with even higher stress levels” due to the mega multitasking required of us during the pandemic.

Health: Therapy for Everyone

Women have felt the need to take on multiple roles while simultaneously hiding their personal pain for generations. According to Terri, this technique is taken on because women feel the need to display strength while battling trauma. Throughout history women were taught to ‘be strong’ and ‘hold the family together’ while suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental illness.”

The Right Therapist for You

Just like finding the perfect pair of summer sandals, it’s important to remember that therapists aren’t one-size-fits-all and that it may take time to find the right one. Both Demetria and Terri recommend finding a therapist who offers a free consultation before signing on to work together. Demetria says that she even asks clients how they visualize their lives “90 days from now if counseling [is] successful.” Similarly, Terri agrees that “a good therapist will want a partnership, they will seek the client’s input in the treatment plan and discuss how they will create a safe place for the client to disclose sensitive information.”

Money Doesn’t Need to be a Barrier

For many, therapy might seem like a luxury. Not only can it be time-consuming, but it’s also costly. If money and insurance are a barrier, there are other ways to get your therapy fix and reap the benefits.

Demetria recommends looking for universities in your area as “some have programs that give clients access to interns on a sliding payment scale or even free for a specified period of time.” Another option is the National Alliance on Mental Health which offers free assistance via a helpline (1-800-950-6264). NAMH may also give “guidance on where and how to access additional free resources in your area.”Terri suggests checking if your employer has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or to “check with local churches to see if they offer vouchers for counseling.” Regardless of your mental state, remember that what we crave is connection to other human beings. If there’s anything this past year taught us, it’s that we need to feel seen and heard by others and take time for ourselves. Find a way to build therapy into your life as you continue your journey of mental wellness. Z