General Articles

Medically Reviewed By: Aaron Horn, LMFT, MA

Below, we offer some general information about therapy and mental health that you may find useful.

What Therapists Can Help With

A therapist can be a helpful resource for people in lots of different situations. They can help those with mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, of course. They can also provide a listening ear and an array of helpful tools and strategies for other life situations that may be challenging, whether they coincide with mental health conditions or not. 

People might seek out a mental health professional for guidance if they’re experiencing low self-esteem, for example, or relationship discord, major life transitions, grief, self-discovery, or addiction, to name a few. A professional counselor can also help people build skills for more effective communication, conflict resolution, social interaction, or others to help them at home, at work, and in all types of relationships. If you’re facing a challenge in your life and are looking for help working through it, connecting with a therapist may be beneficial. Read on for a few examples of topics that people commonly seek therapy to get help with or to learn more about.

Developing Healthy Relationships

One common first step in building a healthy relationship—whether it’s with yourself or with a partner, family member, or friend—is to learn to recognize both green and red flags. Green flags are indications that the relationship has the potential to be healthy, loving, and satisfying. Red flags are indications that things may be headed in an unhealthy direction. A therapist can help you learn to identify signs like these so you can find the right dynamic for you. 

They can also help you see how past relationships may have influenced how you approach new ones, in case those experiences are limiting you today. They can help you get a new perspective on conflicts with your partner, assist you in changing your negative self-talk, develop strategies for managing your emotions and communicating more camly, and much more.

Overcoming Insecurities

Feelings of insecurity about some aspects of your personality, your body, your life experiences, etc. can impact other parts of your life. You may find it hard to show yourself compassion or increase your self-esteem, or you might find it difficult to be trusting and vulnerable in intimate relationships. A therapist may be able to help you change your perspective on yourself to one that’s rooted in logic and objectivity rather than in negativity or cognitive fallacies. They can also help you learn strategies for increasing your levels of self-love.

Practicing Mindfulness

Mindfulness can be a helpful tool in facing many different types of challenges. For instance, it can help you become more aware of your thoughts. Since thoughts influence emotions, recognizing your typical patterns so that you can alter them can be powerful indeed. A therapist may introduce you to mindfulness tools or other techniques to help you work through or manage the emotions you may be feeling.

Accepting Your Sexuality

Human sexuality is a broad spectrum, but society can still make it difficult for people with diverse sexual identities or gender experssions to feel accepted. If you’re discovering or learning to accept your sexuality, a therapist may be able to help. They can provide a listening ear, strategies for dealing with difficult family members, or techniques to help you build healthy relationships, for example.

Managing Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety

People who are experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders can benefit from therapy, too. For instance, therapists can help people identify distorted thought patterns that may be causing distress, set goals for the future, and build skills to manage symptoms over time.

How To Check If A Therapist Is Licensed

Professional therapists are required by law to hold a license in their state. These laws help protect clients, because they ensure that each therapist has gone through the appropriate training in order to practice in their field. When seeking out a therapist, make sure to confirm that they have the proper licenses so you can get the level of care you deserve. If you find treatment through BetterHelp, any therapist you connect with will be appropriately licensed. If you find a therapist in your area or through another medium, it may be wise to inquire about their status or to do some research about their professional background online.

Takeaway

Life is full of challenges. Having the right kind of support can often be instrumental in seeing yourself through these challenges in a healthy way. A therapist can be one source of this type of helpful support. You can get matched with one to meet with virtually through an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, or you can find a therapist in your area for in-person sessions. To get the best results, find the therapist and medium that work best for you personally.