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10 Reasons To Start Seeing a Therapist In 2023

Heather Rafanello, MSW, LCSW @GrowingMindsetTherapy 

Contrary to popular belief, seeing a therapist requires strength, courage, and self-awareness. While there continues to be a stigma that surrounds seeking professional mental health treatment, we understand the true strength and courage that it takes to ask for help. Yes, this is article is written about therapy, by a therapist so perhaps there is some bias but the truth of the matter is that doing the important healing work is such a powerful and liberating process. 

“If you’re not speaking it, you’re storing it - and that sh*t gets heavy.”

Everyone has a past, stressors, and a story that they carry around with them day to day. These stories are full of personal challenges, perceptions of the world, and they can sure be heavy to carry around. Therapy is not only a place to heal, but it can be a place to unpack some of those experiences in a safe place. This environment allows clients to navigate their inner world, where people spend so much time and energy. 

1. Unpack some baggage

Imagine that you’re traveling for vacation. Picture yourself running through the airport, with several suitcases and bags. Sounds hectic, and heavy. All that baggage makes navigating through the weaving lines at security even more stressful, let alone getting to the gate on time. Therapy is a place to unpack some of that baggage and lighten the emotional load that people carry around day in and day out. Therapy allows for clients to process through various aspects of their lives, to dig deeper and explore the core beliefs, or roots of their thoughts, feelings, and actions, and then let go of what no longer serves them. 

2. Learn

A therapist is an unbiased outsider, a sounding board who can reflect back on one’s thoughts and feelings to help identify opportunities. Each and every person has different lived experiences, which all impact the lens through which they see the world. Therapy helps clients understand how their deeply rooted thoughts and feelings influence their actions, in positive ways, and in ways that one might want to change.

3. Explore

Therapy is a journey, one that allows for exploration, adventure, and profound self-discovery. Think of a therapist as a tour guide of the mind, someone who helps navigate the winding paths of thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Just as a skilled guide points out landmarks and hidden gems along a trail, a therapist helps clients uncover significant patterns, core beliefs, and emotional roadblocks that may have gone unnoticed. Through this process, therapy provides an opportunity to venture into the unknown parts of oneself, safely exploring fears, desires, and aspirations.  

Therapists are there to listen without judgment, gather insights, and learn about each individual’s unique story. They help clients reflect on their past, make sense of their present, and carve out a path for the future. This journey is not always linear—there may be detours, obstacles, and moments of uncertainty—but a therapist provides the tools and support needed to move forward with confidence. Therapy encourages curiosity and self-exploration, helping clients shift perspectives, challenge self-limiting beliefs, and embrace new possibilities. By embarking on this adventure, individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves and develop the resilience needed to navigate life with greater clarity and purpose.

4. Release (*sings Let it Go from Frozen)

Sometimes there are memories, experiences, and emotions that linger in one’s mind, refusing to fade no matter how much time passes. Alternatively, there are those moments, relationships, or feelings that people cling to, afraid to release them out of fear of losing a part of themselves. These attachments—whether to painful memories, past relationships, or even long-held beliefs—serve a purpose, whether helpful or not. They may provide a sense of identity, protection, or familiarity, even when they cause distress.  

Therapy offers a space to examine these attachments with compassion and curiosity. It allows clients to explore why certain memories or emotions continue to resurface and what role they play in their present lives. With the guidance of a therapist, individuals can begin to unpack the weight of these experiences, understanding the lessons they carry while learning to release what no longer serves them. This process can involve grieving the past, making peace with unresolved emotions, and embracing a future untethered from unnecessary burdens. Letting go does not mean forgetting; rather, it means freeing oneself from the hold of the past in order to move forward with clarity, strength, and a renewed sense of purpose.

5. Drive connection

Therapy serves as a place to reconnect, with oneself, with another person, and with hope for the future. Therapy creates a place to express feelings (love, anger, grief, jealousy, etc) and practice communication and relationship skills. A therapist is also someone who can help their clients see the light at the end of what might be a dark tunnel, while also providing a compass to guide them and tangible and achievable steps to keep moving forward.

6. Embrace change

This one can be uncomfortable, but if the COVID-19 pandemic had any lessons, it has forced people to become flexible, and adapt. While this can be really helpful on our own terms, the pandemic forced this on society and not everyone was ready for it. Therapy can help people learn to pivot, cope with changes, and encourage clients to step out of their comfort zone and into their growth zone. 

7. Start a new habit (or break an old one)

Many people have goals they want to achieve, intentions that they want to set, or habits they want to break. Therapy can help clients understand what is causing roadblocks or hurdles along the road to success. Once clients understand their needs, possibilities become endless and growth becomes possible.

8. Find clarity

Many clients come to therapy to have a place to “lay it all out on the table.” Trauma dumping is a term that means excessively sharing traumatic experiences, and while socially this might not be the most appropriate, therapy is a great place to lay it all out there, because as therapists we can hold space, and help you unpack these experiences safely. A therapist can help you to pick up the pieces of ‘baggage’ and process them all, allowing you to hold onto what serves you and let go of what no longer does. 

Being a therapist is sometimes like being a detective, we help our clients to look for clues, and for patterns. Relationships, careers, life goals: these are all wonderful topics for therapy, so throw it all out on the table, and use these therapy sessions to better understand the many moving parts of life.

9. Redefine yourself

At Growing Mindset Therapy, we understand that each client is an expert on him or herself - because the truth is that no one has lived with you longer than you. We work collaboratively with our clients, you being the expert on yourself, and our team having expertise in the field of psychology. Therapy can be a place to you safely get to know all parts of yourself, and your core beliefs, while reshaping unhelpful thoughts, and rewriting the narrative of not only your past but for your future.  

10. Last but not least, these ‘unprecedented times’ (*rolls eyes*) 

If the above nine reasons weren’t enough, here’s the big one. These last few years (yes, years!) have been unpredictable, shocking, scary, unknown, and more. The COVID-19 pandemic has touched everyone in some way, no one was left unscathed. It’s important to make space to process the mess that this has caused and regain a sense of control. 

Therapy can be hard, but it’s a powerful outlet, and tool that allows people to feel safe, and just exist. One’s relationship with therapy can ebb and flow. Some might want to build a long-lasting relationship with their therapist, while others seek support for a situation or experience that is overwhelming. 

It’s important to grow through what you go through, and therapy can help do just that.

Therapy is a journey of self-discovery, healing, and transformation. Despite lingering stigma, seeking therapy is an act of strength, resilience, and self-awareness. It provides a safe space to unpack emotional baggage, explore personal narratives, and gain clarity on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Through this process, individuals can identify patterns, release what no longer serves them, and foster meaningful connections with themselves and others. Therapy is not about fixing something broken; rather, it is about growth, learning, and embracing change in a supportive environment.

Ultimately, therapy offers a chance to redefine oneself, break old habits, and cultivate new, healthier ones. It allows individuals to step into their growth zone, find clarity in uncertainty, and navigate life’s many complexities with greater self-compassion and understanding. Whether one seeks therapy for a specific challenge or as a long-term support system, it remains a powerful tool for self-improvement and healing. In these ever-changing times, investing in mental health is not just beneficial—it is essential for overall well-being and personal fulfillment.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to treat, or diagnose and medical conditions, nor is it a replacement for mental health or medical treatment. If you or someone you know is in need of clinical support, our team is able to provide therapy services to those in NJ and FL. Contact us to learn more. If you or someone you know is in need of immediate support please contact emergency services. U.S. Mental health crisis line: dial 988 ; medical emergency dial 911