What Are the Benefits of Therapy?

Therapy provides a toolkit for the challenges of everyday life. The benefits of therapy range from helping you better understand your thoughts and feelings to improving relationships, managing mental health conditions, and building self-confidence and resilience.

What are the benefits of therapy?

Some people discover the benefits of therapy during difficult situations like losing a loved one, experiencing a traumatic event, or managing a mental health condition. For others, therapy is a tool to enhance well-being, navigate life transitions, or learn new skills. Here are some ways therapy can better your life: 

#1 Better manage emotions

Therapy is a safe place to process difficult feelings. People sometimes try to avoid emotions like grief, sadness, anger, or fear because they’re afraid of feeling overwhelmed or they’ve gotten the message that they shouldn’t express these emotions. For example, in many cultures it’s common for people to apologize if they start crying, but therapy is a place where no one will judge you or your emotions. Having a specific time and place to address strong feelings each week can ease your fears of being overwhelmed and give you the tools to manage emotions in your everyday life.

#2 Healthier thoughts

Thoughts are automatic reactions that greatly affect our lives. Therapy helps you understand your thoughts and reactions on a deeper level and change them for the better. Grounding exercises like mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and body scans can help you notice your thoughts without feeling controlled by them. And approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teach you to look at your thoughts objectively and identify unhelpful beliefs. 

#3 Decrease mental health symptoms

Another benefit of therapy is it can help you manage mental health symptoms such as mood changes, substance use, sadness, and worry. Therapists teach coping skills and help you work through distress. They can also refer you to a psychiatrist or physician if medication might improve your symptoms.

#4 Heal from trauma

Trauma can lead to emotional distress, mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, flashbacks, physical distress, and other symptoms. One of the benefits of therapy is helping you work through painful memories and emotions associated with trauma. This can restore a sense of safety, trust, and resilience. Your therapist holds a safe space for your feelings, so you can feel them without fear of getting trapped in them. 

#5 Set boundaries

Therapy can also help you set boundaries with family, friends, or at work. One of the benefits of therapy is that you’ll identify roadblocks preventing you from setting healthy boundaries. You’ll also develop practical strategies and communication techniques to assert your needs and enforce your boundaries.

Does therapy work?

A large body of research shows that the benefits of therapy are significant and long-lasting. Therapy can decrease mental health symptoms and is linked to positive changes in the brain and body. It’s been proven to increase coping skills and improve quality of life. Therapy can also improve symptoms in people with substance use disorders, eating disorders, and other complex conditions. Plus, the benefits of couples therapy and the benefits of family therapy are well-established as ways of improving relationship dynamics and communication skills. 

Getting started with therapy

If you’re ready to explore the benefits of therapy, you’ll need to find a therapist you trust and set up an appointment. As you begin your journey, consider the types of therapy that are best for you. Here are a few common options:

1. Individual therapy. These sessions include you and the provider. Individual therapy can address any number of challenges, such as mental health conditions, relationship problems, trauma, and stress.
2. Group therapy. One or more therapists meet with a group of clients who share similar challenges. Group therapy can help you feel less alone in your struggles, hear different perspectives from others, and develop relationship skills.
3. Couples therapy. Couples therapy is for romantic partners who want to strengthen or repair their relationship. You may see the therapist both separately and together. 
4. Teletherapy. Virtual therapy takes place through telecommunication or video conferencing. It can connect you to providers outside your area and cut out the commute time to an office appointment.

What to expect in your first therapy session

Your first session will likely be an introduction to therapy and your provider. Your therapist will explain what to expect in counseling sessions and their role in your journey. You’ll talk about what you hope to gain from therapy and set goals. 

You’ll also have a chance to ask questions to see if you’re a good match. This part is important because the trust and rapport between therapist and client sets you up for a good outcome. You might want to know more about them or their treatment strategy to see if you’ll feel at ease with them. It’s OK to ask questions that may feel uncomfortable to you. Therapy is a place where you can be open and honest. If the therapist isn’t a good fit, they can help you find another provider better suited to your needs.

How to find a therapist

If you’ve never been to therapy before or it’s been a long time, it can feel daunting to find a mental health care provider. You can ask your health care provider for a referral or check with your insurance company for in-network therapists. Some people feel more comfortable with a therapist who shares their race, gender identity, age, or background. If your employer offers mental health benefits through Lyra, you can search for a therapist based on those preferences. 

Take the first step to a better life

You don’t have to struggle through life’s ups and downs alone. The sooner you address mental health challenges, the less of a toll they’ll take on your relationships, career, health, and happiness.