Therapists are mental health professionals that help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem and promote changes in behavior to achieve optimal mental health and enhanced emotional wellbeing. As professionals in the field of mental health there are certain things of which they are aware that the general population may not know. Verywell Mind identifies the following 12 things your therapist knows that you may not:
- Engaging in therapy does not imply you are broken: according to the American Psychological Association (APA), the definition of psychotherapy is designed to “help people of all ages live happier, healthier and more productive lives.”
- Having a mental health condition does not make you a bad person.
- Mental health is highly complex.
- Not every therapist is the right fit for a client: every therapist is different, and not all will be a perfect match.
- A therapist does not have to agree with you to be able to help.
- What you share in therapy remains confidential: protecting a client’s privacy is part of a therapist’s code of ethics. A therapist can only break confidentiality if they suspect that you may harm yourself or someone else, if abuse or neglect is occurring, or if they are compelled by a court order.
- You guide the process, not your therapist.
- The outcome is directly linked to your commitment, dedication, and engagement in the therapeutic process.
- You are not the only person with your specific issue: therapists work with many other clients are facing similar challenges.
- Your therapist can tell if you have relapsed: relapse is defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), “as the recurrence of behavioral or other substantive indicators of active disease after a period of remission.” Although you may be tempted to conceal a relapse, mental health professionals are trained to recognize the signs of relapse, so your therapist will probably know anyway.
- Recognizing triggers is essential: Johns Hopkins Medicine explains triggers as “external events or circumstances that may produce very uncomfortable emotional or psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, panic, discouragement, despair, or negative self-talk.” A therapist can help you realize what people or situations in your life are triggering unhealthy thought and behavior processes, and help you establish how to avoid these triggers as well as help you cultivate healthier responses in situations when they are unavoidable.
- Therapy is not necessarily a linear process.
For Information and Support
Every family in need of mental health treatment must select a program that will best suit the needs of their family. When one member of a family struggles, it impacts everyone in the family unit. To maximize the benefits of treatment we work closely with the entire family to ensure that everyone is receiving the support they need through these difficult times. Seeking help is never easy, but you are not alone! If you or someone you know needs mental health treatment, we strongly encourage you to reach out for help as quickly as possible. It is not uncommon for many mental health difficulties to impact a person’s life, long term. Pursuing support at the beginning of one’s journey can put the individual in the best position to learn how to manage themselves in a healthy way so they can go on to live happy and fulfilling lives.
OUR KNOWLEDGEABLE ADMISSIONS TEAM CAN BE REACHED 24/7 AT INFO@PACIFICRTC.COM OR CALL: 800-531-5769
