Why successful people seek therapy.
We all too often make the mistake of believing that successful people don’t have the same sorts of problems that everyone else has. We assume they are happy, have a great marriage, great kids, and have no need for therapy. The truth is that they do have those issues, but they also come to the table with issues that are a little different than most. Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why successful people often seek out therapy:
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Feeling Like An Imposter
It may surprise you to learn that successful people often harbor feelings of not being good enough. It doesn’t matter how good they are at what they do, imposter syndrome can leave them feeling like a phony. They often find it impossible to feel any sort of pride in their accomplishments, choosing instead to believe that blind luck landed them where they are today.
People who suffer from this problem will often seek out a therapist because they constantly feel anxious or depressed. Their feelings of inadequacy will be buried under those other symptoms, and often need to be coaxed out by the therapist. It often takes a few sessions for the real reasons to surface, and when they do, the therapist can work on getting the person to feel good about their successes.
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The Secret Reason They Are So Driven
Success and drive tend to go hand in hand. Successful people usually work harder, stick with things longer, and don’t let failures hold them back from trying again. These are natural traits for some, but for others, pain is often the motivating factor. Great success can mask pain, but the hurt is always at the surface just waiting to break out.
For example, someone who is constantly told as a child that they will be a failure in life will end up doing all they can to prove their parents wrong. Similarly, a painful divorce may serve as a need to succeed as a way of revenge. Therapy can make it possible for old scars to be healed, and for the client to be even better at what they do as they move forward.
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Fear of Losing It All
Success brings financial gains, which also means more to lose. Constantly living in fear of that type of loss can lead to crippling fear. That fear leads them to work even harder, and they will drive themselves into the ground without ever considering taking any kind of break.
A good therapist can help their client see that net worth and self-worth are not joined at the hip. They will then learn that they can fail and still be alright. They can also learn tools and strategies that will help keep self-doubt at bay.
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Success Breeds Loneliness
People who achieve a lot can often feel a sense of detachment from family and friends. They may also often need to travel for work, leading to many lonely nights on the road. Reaching the top of the corporate ladder also makes it tough to foster any sort of relationship with people below them, which means opportunities to socialize become few and far between.
Therapy can help successful people find a way back to the values that they cherish. They may see that the things that are really important to them, such as friends and family, have been taking a back seat to work. They may also learn ways to look for causal social meetings in place of professional networking, making for more friendship opportunities.
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Feelings of Guilt
It’s not uncommon for a successful person to walk into my office and immediately be on the defensive. They will feel as though their being there means that someone more in need will be missing out on getting help. This is not necessarily a sign of entitlement, but rather a sense of guilt. That guilt spreads to things like the amount of money they earn or the great vacations they get to take.
These feelings often go back to feeling unworthy of the things that they have accomplished. Therapy can help them see that their success allows them to make a bigger positive impact on the world.
Don’t Be Too Proud To Seek Help
Even with great successes, there is still a chance you are being held back. Talking to a therapist about your feelings can open doors that would have otherwise remained closed to you.