Why Go To Therapy?

We all face difficulties in our daily lives that lead us to feel distressed. Arguments, problems at work, bullying, relationship and parenting issues, and bereavements. These things can be very challenging to deal with, but given enough time and with support from friends and loved ones, we are able to process these events and move on. Sometimes, however, this natural process gets interrupted and we get ‘stuck’ in negative emotions and unhelpful thought processes such as worry. The advice we receive is that we just need to get on with things. We need to forgive and forget and choose to focus on the positives. We need to use meditation and mindfulness and go to yoga and eat a healthy diet, and then all our problems will magically be better again.

But this just doesn’t happen, this approach doesn’t work, and if by chance there is some change, then it doesn’t tend to last, because inside, we are left with that original distress. Sadness, anxiety, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. And instead of being able to share our problems, we have to keep them to ourselves, because we don’t want to burden others with them. And we struggle, alone in our pain. The issue is of course problems do not go away if we ignore or avoid them. The only thing that works is to face them head-on. To turn and to look at them and try to make sense of them, to process the emotions we feel, and identify what we need to do to make things better (even if that means making peace with something that cannot be solved). This is the only way to feel better. But this is what we often turn away from. And it’s only natural because there is a fear that facing our emotions is painful and overwhelming. But with the right knowledge and the right approach, we can stay with and process our emotions, and gain what we are looking for. A release from our past, clarity about our present, and a confidence that we have a manner of control over our future.

This is what therapy that is focused on emotion can offer. It is, essentially, the natural healing process. Except instead of the person going through it alone, they are going through it with a professional. Together, the therapist and client face what has happened, identify where the client is getting stuck, and work through these things until a sense of relief is achieved. And then the journey is over, and they take what they have learned and face their difficulties feeling more prepared and able.

We all face difficulties in our daily lives that lead us to feel distressed. Arguments, problems at work, bullying, relationship and parenting issues, and bereavements. These things can be very challenging to deal with, but given enough time and with support from friends and loved ones, we are able to process these events and move on. Sometimes, however, this natural process gets interrupted and we get ‘stuck’ in negative emotions and unhelpful thought processes such as worry. This is when therapy can help.