Being strong has many meanings, but most people associate it with big muscles or the ability to exercise for a long time with explosive force. However, there are other forms of strength, and it takes a lot of strength to seek and benefit from individual therapy. From societal and cultural pressures pushing back against getting help to combatting one’s self-doubt, going to therapy might not always come without challenges (either self-imposed or situational).
However, seeking help demonstrates strength, nurtures growth, and empowers individuals to maneuver life’s challenges. In addition, going to therapy continues to build on these foundations, so those who participate enrich themselves more and more as time goes on. That’s why choosing therapy is a sign of strength.
Why Choosing Individual Therapy Is the Strong Thing to Do
Individual therapy is an excellent option for tackling challenges ranging from self-doubt, anxiety, and relationship problems to handling the particular difficulties of ADHD and anger management. No matter why a patient is considering therapy, it is essential that they understand just how strong they’re being by following this path.
Acknowledgement is Brave
The easiest thing someone can do is accept things the way they are and look the other way anytime situations become difficult. When a patient acknowledges that they are facing an issue they’re struggling to handle independently, few things can be braver.
They look the problem directly in the eyes and say, “I won’t let you overcome me without a fight.” This level of resilience might start small, and that’s all right. By attending therapy, participants strengthen their resolve over time, becoming more able to cope with challenges and use new strategies to overcome issues they previously buckled under.
Growth is Hard
Just as acknowledging a problem is brave, growing from it can be tough. One of the first steps toward finding help from a therapist is being vulnerable and sharing details of what makes life challenging or why a situation is causing so much emotional turmoil. This process requires challenging oneself and being willing to admit that mistakes have been made along the way.
Growth in individual therapy is similar to exercise in the gym: Participants might start out being able to lift only the smallest burdens, but over time, they will develop more skills to handle greater and greater challenges. A therapist is there to help lift those weights, and that strength is no less valuable or tangible than the physical strength of athletes. Work those (emotional and mental) muscles to see gains and growth.
Breaking the Stigma Takes Guts
Some patients live in areas in which the thought of therapy is stigmatized. Perhaps the culture suggests that only “weak” people seek therapy or that a person is a “failure” if they need to resort to finding help. These claims are invalid, but hearing them can discourage a participant.
It takes strength to break through these insults and do what patients know is best for them regardless. Putting trust in someone else when everyone else is saying (often loudly) that doing so is a sign of weakness takes real strength.
Coming Together Requires Change
Personal strength can describe a patient’s relationship with their struggles and experiences but it also impacts others. When individuals seek therapy, they invest not just in themselves but also in the many people who rely on them or enjoy their presence in their lives. For instance, suppose that a single mother of two is facing waves of depression that make it difficult to keep up with housework alongside her job.
Her grandmother recently passed away, and she is having a difficult time grieving in a healthy manner. Pursuing therapy in this situation takes real strength: to break out of the rut by doing something challenging, to be the support that her children need, to reclaim daily tasks with confidence and energy, and more.
Her participation in therapy is about more than herself; it’s about being strong for her children’s well-being. This can be true for anyone in relationships, whether siblings, friends, romantic partners, or even working relationships.
Choose Individual Therapy to Reimagine Your Life
Taking the first step toward therapy can be intimidating. Still, the positive outcomes can completely transform your life and restore you to a thriving individual ready to achieve your goals. It takes much strength to embrace therapy and overcome cultural stigma and self-doubt.
However, the team at Village Counseling is always prepared and eager to meet new patients who have committed themselves to change. Contact Village Counseling today to schedule your first individual therapy appointment and see how much of a difference it can make!