I want to start psychotherapy – What is psychotherapy & Why should I start?
I want to start therapy. How easily would you say or admit this need? Even today, when we are in the 21st century and there is a lot of information around mental health issues, many people find it difficult to accept psychotherapy. Either as a concept or as a process. It may now, be slowly becoming fashionable, but the essence of starting sessions lies elsewhere: The realization that he needs them, that he needs them. We are not like we used to be, yes. But we can’t ignore the fact that many people see self-improvement and mental health as a trend, or at worst a taboo.
Psychotherapy is actually a journey towards improving our mental health and understanding various issues within ourselves. Our behaviour, our communication, how we relate to the significant others in our lives. We have to be ready, we have to have felt perhaps some difficulties within ourselves, have various questions, something bothering us to say: I want to start psychotherapy.
Why Start Psychotherapy – The Common Mistake You Make
Surely, in order not to admit that “I want to start psychotherapy”, you avoid something difficult and painful, or you’re driven by taboos, illusions or limitations. So you wonder: Why should I start psychotherapy?
- “I don’t need a psychologist, I’m not crazy.”
- “I am not alone, I have good friends next to me, I talk to them and they advise me”.
- “Besides, I have no problems, I’m fine. Relationships with friends, family, partner. Why should I go?”
- “Psychotherapy has become fashionable! Like what? Go and vent my innermost feelings to a stranger?”
- “What if I have a problem and they give me pills? I don’t want to.”
These are questions that you may have asked some of them, or, if anything, you have probably thought about them. And I don’t blame you. Information is pervasive these days, especially dangerous and unverified and scientific information. Many people without even being psychologists-psychotherapists take on cases and we hear things from time to time. But let me say a few things.
Psychotherapy is not about “crazy” people because the concept of “crazy” does not exist, especially scientifically. Probably, you have been influenced by TV and even movie examples that distort mental health science and portray roles with odd behavior and temperament.
Psychotherapy aims to reduce any wrong behaviours, improve the way you relate to others, calm and eliminate possible mental disorders. It helps to treat psychosomatic problems and symptoms, dysfunctional habits or relationships. In short, it is a journey of self-awareness, self-improvement and mental upliftment. Furthermore, it aims to improve and develop the personality and interpersonal relationships of the psychotherapist. And most importantly: A psychiatrist, and only a psychiatrist, especially in specific cases, recommends medication. Psychotherapy does not and may not be based on this. So, you have no reason to be afraid.
Psychotherapy needs a specialist and only a specialist
It may not be acceptable, it may even seem unpleasant, but no friend of yours can actually advise you. Because you need expert treatment and scientific knowledge, not opinions. Our friends are not experts, they cannot be objective, they are often our “crutches” or our critics and supporters.
A psychologist is objective, detached, knowledgeable and a scientist. They will stand beside you, discreetly, but they will not take you by the hand. He won’t judge you, but he won’t solve your problems either. He will attempt to unlock you and push you to find the answers you seek. To help you find your ideal physical-mental-spiritual balance.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT HERE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING THAT CONCERNS YOU
After all, (it should be) simple. When our arm or neck hurts, we will visit an orthopaedist or an internist. For our soul, and whatever is bothering us inside, we will visit a psychologist-psychotherapist. And it is very important that we seek to find a psychologist-psychotherapist in this capacity. Why, in short the difference, we will explain in the future.
I want to start psychotherapy – 12 reasons to do it + Benefits of psychotherapy
1. Protected environment. Your therapist will not judge you. Inside the room you will be alone and you can say anything. You can externalize your thoughts, your feelings, any problems and unlock whatever is bothering you.
2. Problems in your relationships: Probably, you have identified something that is bothering you in your friendly, personal, professional relationships. Perhaps you are being blamed for your behavior, you are having difficulty reaching out to others, or connecting. Your psychotherapist, indirectly, in this case, will act as a mirror and show you, project yourself. How you are, how you function, what you expect within each relationship. And so, you start and you work on it and you improve it.
3. Αποδοχή εαυτού: Ένα δύσκολο κομμάτι. Δύσκολο να το αναγνωρίσουμε, δύσκολο και να το αποδεχτούμε. Κάτι μπορεί να μας ενοχλεί μέσα μας, κάτι να μας δυσκολεύει, να μας εμποδίζει στην καθημερινότητα. Να το πούμε λαϊκά, κάτι να μας φταίει και δεν μπορούμε να το αναγνωρίσουμε. Μέσω της ψυχοθεραπείας μπορεί ο ψυχοθεραπευτής μας να μας βοηθήσει να αναγνωρίσουμε σταδιακά τι μας επηρεάζει και ενοχλεί και να το επιλύουμε βαθμιαία. Συνολικά, είναι θέμα αποδοχής, αναγνώρισης του ποιοι είμαστε, πώς αντιμετωπίζουμε καταστάσεις και τον εαυτό μας. Σκοπός: Να βρούμε αρχικά ηρεμία μέσα μας.
4. Inner peace: Have you identified problems in your daily life? Do you have anger, rage, nerves, judgments? Either in your family, professional or personal environment? The first and foremost thing is to identify the source of your behaviour and then move towards resolution. And of course it is something that has a direct connection to your psyche.
5. Understand why you feel the way you feel: Whatever is related to your emotion has an absolute connection to your inner world. If you externalize them, if you suppress them, if you manifest them in the wrong way and to the wrong degree. By understanding why this is happening, you can work on it and gradually improve it and gain balance and peace within yourself.
6. What makes it difficult for you: Is there something that is making it difficult for you either in your daily life or within yourself? Are you unable to handle situations, problems in your professional and personal life? Psychotherapy through sessions is able to give you ways and “tools” that you can use whenever you are struggling with something. In this way, you gain initiative, dynamism, arm yourself in the face of difficulties and do not let them control you.
7. In which area do you find yourself struggling: If you do your self-criticism, if you dig deep within yourself, you will realize that in some area you are lagging behind. Personally, professionally, socially? Perhaps you’ve hidden or suppressed that part and it’s waiting to be “put off”. Be in the dark either because it’s making it difficult for you, and so we usually tend not to confront it, or not acknowledge it. Therapy, as difficult as it may be in this phase, revealing possible hurting parts, is just as redemptive and life-saving. And that is what we should seek.
8. Psychosomatically: Nowadays, unfortunately, many of our fellow human beings are somatizing their emotions, their thoughts, their stress. The body acts as a filter, so that everything we experience on a daily basis passes through it to us and we don’t deal with it. So they stay inside us and manifest as panic attacks, anger attacks or worse as health problems. Our body’s attitude, health, their overall condition and possible health problems (psychosomatic, autoimmune , post-traumatic stress, migraines, chest plaque and physical pains ) can be managed through psychotherapy.
9. Finding out who we are: The word “self-knowledge” is quite misunderstood these days. It is not an empty concept or practice. To put it simply: All the times we ask ourselves “why would this happen to me”, “how did I utter this”, “what have I done to put myself through this”, or even “no one understands me” is a matter of self-awareness. We fail to recognize the reasons and causes that lead us to the corresponding behaviors and consequences. However, through psychotherapy, we can identify the triggers and causes in the first place. We can take responsibility, be brave and ready in this regard, and then find a way to resolve it for our own benefit.
10. Psychological trauma: Very important, perhaps the source of many issues. A person who may have or had in the past, a bad relationship with his/her family, partner, and this has not improved, may have an open wound in him/her. And like any open wound, trauma hurts us, makes it difficult, holds us back, weighs us down and determines how we behave and function. It needs healing, first, and then care to close. And only psychotherapy can do that. To turn bad experiences into strength and beneficial actions on our part for ourselves and those around us.
11. Self-esteem + Self-confidence: The two concepts are not the same.
Self-esteem is about valuing ourselves on what we have. I value that I am a worthy person, I am proud of it, I possess the skills of reason, initiative, work efficiency, courage and more.
Self-confidence is about believing in oneself. I believe that I can win in tomorrow’s race because I have prepared myself perfectly and I have a strong will that I will win. These are not phrases or words in front of the mirror, nor are they quotes. They do not come and go, but are cultivated, developed and improved. Very important both for our development.
12. Stress management: If you have identified in yourself nerves, irritation, intense stress, finding it difficult to cope with situations and challenges and they seem like a mountain, and as a result you are not functioning smoothly in your daily life, you probably have anxiety. If you don’t treat it psychotherapeutically, first by identifying the cause and then alleviating it, there is a risk of psychosomatic manifestations. Deal with whatever is robbing you on a daily basis and get yourself back on track.
Psychotherapy….
is a perpetual journey of self-knowledge, improvement of ourselves, a sign of our love for him. The most important evolutionary process of mental, physical and spiritual balance. Every day both due to circumstances and past events we face a lot. Let us not burden ourselves and our inner self with another. Let us dare to improve and heal it.
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If you want to solve your questions about psychotherapy, or are thinking about it, contact us here.We’ll be happy to answer any questions and shed light on any dark spots. Don’t forget: Our soul is the most precious thing we have.
