There is still a lot of stigma around mental health therapy and people still continue to shy away from seeking professional help. It is still not normally and socially acceptable to talk about receiving mental health therapy. A lot can be attributed to the fact that there are no clear guidelines and all mental health therapy is required to be conducted in private.
It is often said that what we don’t know or don’t understand is often stigmatised or looked down upon. By preparing for seeking professional help one can have beautiful experiences in mental health therapy and receive positive benefits from it. Let us break down what all preparation goes into mental health therapy.
Knowing what you need: This is the first step to seeking mental health therapy. It is important to know and understand why one is seeking therapy. Is it because there are a lot of unresolved issues or is it because one just wants to bring consciousness to their everyday thoughts, feelings, sensations, and actions. Therefore, a good place to start would be to start journaling. Write in one sentence what problem you are facing and what comes up every time you face that challenge. The famous S.M.A.R.T. acronym.
Choosing the right mental health therapy: Once you know if you want to change or achieve in therapy then it is important to read about these therapies. Every therapy has a certain style and process and can get better results in certain aspects of one’s life. For example cognitive behavioural therapy is great to make behavioural changes. The therapist will provide psychoeducation and slowly and steadily with the help of the client achieve goals.
On the other hand, EMDR is a tested therapeutic technique to achieve healing of past traumas. Those that do not enjoy talking about their feelings may greatly benefit from mental health therapy.
Preparing to share: Finally therapy is all about being aware and sharing one’s experiences. By sharing one’s experiences and addressing the challenges one may face it becomes easier to take on a third party view. During mental health therapy the therapist creates a safe space for client sharing and creates a confidentiality agreement. Many clients feel worried that what they share in the therapy room with the therapist may or may not be kept confidential.
It is ethically binding on the therapist to keep everything confidential and there are of course special considerations. These special considerations will also be communicated to the client at every session.
Finding the right therapist: It is also important to understand what different certifications imply and what skills the therapist brings to the therapy room. When receiving mental health therapy it is important that the therapist is not only certified but also trained in that particular therapeutic approach. Many therapists get a basic degree and follow it up with specialist certifications. There is no point in receiving therapy from a therapist who does not have specialization in a specific mental health therapy.
Additionally, some therapists also exclusively work with certain conditions while others may refer you to different therapists for different work. It is important that the first session be used to work out the details of understanding what therapy would look like, and how the therapist might approach it.
Finally, by seeking mental health therapy one may empower themselves and resolve any blocks or challenges that they might be facing in personal or professional life.
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