What Is Mental Health Therapy?
As a therapist, over the years I have encountered clients that are initially hesitant about therapy. There’s a desire to speak to someone yet there’s also the stigma attached to seeking out mental health services as well. Many times, clients struggle with the thought, “What will my family and friends think?”, “Why can’t I just push through this on my own?”, “If I just give it time, things will get better on their own.”, I should just pray about it.”, and “Will I really benefit from talking to someone who doesn't even know me and what I’ve been through?”. All totally understandable.
You see, society has portrayed mental health in a negative light at times. There are times that the selfless acts of individuals have been imposed on mental health as opposed to the acknowledgment of people’s beliefs and choices in some cases. Yes, there has been some improvement when it comes to this, but then again there are still some people and platforms that associate mental health with a negative connotation. Some also believe that mental health is not a real thing and that working on oneself should be simple and completed with a snap of the finger. There are also those who rely on their faith as a go-to to resolve the things that they are battling within themselves. I get it! Yet I also understand that as a therapist there are some issues and problems that go well beyond our scope of being able to resolve or “fix” without the help of trusted, knowledgeable, trained, and understanding professionals that are skilled and well-versed in helping people work through their struggles with mental health.
Therapy is not about judgment. It is about helping and seeing people work towards addressing the things that keep them stuck. It is about professionals who are passionate about the clients they serve as well as the level and quality of service that they provide. It is about helping clients work towards their goals and being able to meet them. Just because someone is struggling with mental health, that does not make them a bad person or someone who is incapable of changing. It makes them human. Think about it for a second. We all go through things, yet we all process our experiences differently. One person may be able to experience certain things within life that they can work through on their own while another may not be able to do so as easily. And that is okay! Do not let your fears get in the way of seeking out the help that you may need. Remember that therapists as people too! We are just people who are equipped to walk you through the process of accepting that there are some challenges within your life that may require additional support and a trained listening ear.
Monique Mouzon is a therapist with FullScope Counseling. Contact us today for a consultation.
