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Mental Wellness Therapy: What is it and how does it really work?

mental wellness therapy how does it work

Have you ever felt stuck in life? Has a relationship ended, and you felt as if your life is over? Do you get triggered by the little things in life?

Whether taking control over your behaviours or learning to navigate challenging times, therapy can provide you with the help and support you need. Sadly, there is still a stigma attached to therapy, with many people viewing it as a sign of weakness rather than a way to gain insight into oneself and improve one's life. Understanding what it is and how it can help you is the first step to getting the support you need.

mental health therapy gif

What is therapy?

At its core, therapy is a collaborative process that helps you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It can help you better understand yourself and the world around you, allowing you to change your life. Therapy does not involve giving advice or prescribing medication. It is about helping clients understand what’s going on in their lives and how they can use this knowledge to make positive changes.

Many of us go about our life with barely any understanding of our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Our experiences shape who we are as individuals, but it is difficult to understand what exactly is driving these patterns. Therapy allows us to explore our past and present experiences in a safe and supportive environment, helping us better understand ourselves and cope with life’s challenges. Many people find that therapy can be incredibly healing to just talk in a non-judgemental environment.

How does therapy really work?

Imagine that you are trying to fix a leaky faucet. You could spend hours searching for an answer online or reading through repair manuals, but at the end of the day, you will still be no closer to fixing it than when you began. You might not find the source of the leak. Or maybe you did and applied a plaster only to find it leaking again a week later.

So, you call a plumber. They come over and diagnose the problem, locating the source of the leak and fixing it. They give you tips on preventing future problems, but overall, they don’t mould you into a plumber. They simply fix your faucet so that you can get on with your life.

Therapy is similar. When we try to get over our mental blocks, personal challenges or patterns, we might not know where to start and where to end. With luck, we might treat the symptoms and make some minor improvements to our life, but we still won’t be able to fully heal or understand the root cause of these issues.

A trained therapist knows where to look to find the leak. But instead of just letting you know the problem, a therapist guides you by asking the right questions so that you can understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. They help you heal and make the changes you want to see in yourself.

Most of our problems stem from limiting beliefs and how we perceive things. Therapy can help you challenge these beliefs and see things in a different light, helping you to let go of the past and live more fully in the present.

trained therapist gif oprah

5 ways in which therapy helps you

  1. Gain self-awareness: By learning about your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.
  2. Improve coping skills: Therapy helps you to learn better ways of dealing with challenges that arise in everyday life. Whether it’s stress management or anger management, therapy can help equip you with valuable tools for navigating difficult emotions and experiences.
  3. Find support and comfort: Therapy isn’t just about trying to fix a problem. It is also about finding the support you need to get through tough times. A therapist can provide a space for you to share your emotions and experiences without fear of judgement or criticism, helping you build stronger relationships with others and yourself.
  4. Heal from past traumas: Whether it is abuse, loss, or a tough childhood, therapy can help you heal and move on from painful experiences. A therapist works with you to process these events healthily and constructively, helping you to get “unstuck” and live your best life.
  5. Grow and develop: Therapy is a journey of discovery fuelled by curiosity, creativity, and self-exploration. It’s about learning to see yourself as you truly are and growing into the person you want to be. A therapist won’t try to mould you into something that you aren’t but will help you find your true potential.

In closing

Whether it’s for a specific problem or just to get support and guidance in your personal growth journey, therapy is an incredibly powerful tool that can help you better understand and heal yourself. If you’re ready to take the first step, contact a therapist today.

About the author

Nivetha Kannan writes blogs on mental health and well-being topics for Silver Oak Health. She is a professional content writer and is passionate about the field of psychology & personal development. She writes impactful content that brings positive changes in people. Her mantra for life is to ‘be curious, and not judgmental’.

Nivetha Kannan

Content Writer, Silver Oak Health

Nivetha Kannan writes blogs on mental health and well-being topics for Silver Oak Health. She is a professional content writer and is passionate about the field of psychology & personal development. She writes impactful content that brings positive changes in people. Her mantra for life is to 'be curious and not judgemental'.