What are the top reasons people go to a mental health therapist?

There are many reasons why people may seek out therapy or counseling with a mental health professional. Before I start with the list, I would like to say that I truly believe that people who go to therapy are the healthiest people out there.  When you are truly willing to look at your issues in an honest way and try to fix them, there is nothing healthier possible.

Here are some of the most common reasons:

To address mental health issues:

People may go to therapy to address specific mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

To heal past pain:

People may go to therapy to address specific issues that are caused by something someone did to them.

To address relationship problems:

A therapist can help you to improve communication, build trust, resolve conflicts, and strengthen your relationships.

To have a safe place to heal:

Talking to friends can be amazing, but friends don’t have objectivity.  They can unintentionally to give you advice that would ultimately make you better at meeting their needs instead of focusing in on what is going to be best for you.  There is also a risk of judgment that can come from friends.  Therapy is a safe and non-judgmental place to heal, and best of all, when you are done healing, you don’t ever have to talk to your therapist again because they aren’t in your inner circles.

To learn stress management skills:

Therapy can teach you healthy ways to cope with stress and handle challenges that come up in life.

To improve self-esteem:

A therapist can help you learn ways to build self-confidence and self-worth, and learn how to assert yourself and set healthy boundaries.

Help with lifestyle choices:

Therapy can help you identify and work towards specific goals, such as making lifestyle changes, whether to change careers, whether to stay in an intimate relationship or friendship, or pursuing personal growth.

It’s important to note that these are just a few examples, and the reasons why people seek therapy are usually individual and personal.

If you live in California and are looking for a therapist, please give us a call at Long Beach Therapy: 562-310-9741.