The importance of counseling
Have you ever shared information with someone and thought to yourself, “I hope I didn’t share too much” or “What will they think of me after this?” Or have you ever felt a sense of shame or guilt for navigating life with various emotions and feelings that you may think others see as “weak?” Have you desired a safe space to express these feelings without judgment?
Well, let me introduce you to a tool that will change your life forever! Some people know it by the name of therapy or counseling; however, I like to also think of it as a general space to HEAL and EVOLVE.
Often as a therapist, I get asked questions or statements that sound like:
- Why is therapy important?
- I am not crazy, so therapy is not for me.
- I can speak to God about my problems.
- I am not broken so you cannot fix me.
- Does this stuff really work anyway?
So, what is therapy exactly? Therapy in its simplest form is a place for you to be heard and seen and show up as your authentic self. Therapy is also a transformative experience that allows you to come into new insights within yourself and rewrite your story to create your own narrative. What I have learned over time is that therapy is more than speaking with someone when things are bad; it is constantly checking in with yourself to maintain a balanced and healthy life.
Therapy is important because it reminds us that we are human, and it can aid in normalizing our feelings and emotions from various life experiences. Therapy is especially important for our health care workers following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2022 Medscape National Physician Burnout and Suicide Report, on average 10% of physicians have had thoughts of suicide. In some specialties, that number is even higher: 13% of pathologists surveyed, for example, reported having suicidal thoughts. Other high-risk specialties include general surgery (12%), oncology (12%), and infectious diseases (11%). Having to navigate the world alone after experiencing constant trauma can lead to negative thoughts, and in some cases, suicide. In these cases, having a therapist will allow you to process these feelings.
Therapy is important for many reasons:
- It provides a safe space for you to explore your feelings and emotions.
- It equips you with tools to better manage daily stressors.
- It teaches you how to interact with people in your life (setting boundaries and how to communicate).
- It can help improve negative thinking habits.
- It can help with life transitions or changes (family, death, family planning, work transitions).
Therapy is just as important as going to your health care doctor. People understand the importance of going to their primary care providers yearly for health check-ups and the gym for their physical health needs, but people often forget about the need to care for their mental health.
If you are new to entering the therapy space, you may come with feelings of apprehension or anxiety. Do not worry; these feelings are natural and to be expected. You are committing to sharing your most vulnerable self with someone and that can be uncomfortable; however, over time these feelings will subside.
Though no one can tell you what your therapy process will be like as each therapist is different, and each client has different experiences along their therapy journey. But what I do know to be true about therapy is once you allow yourself to be vulnerable, stretched, open-minded, and trusting of what new insights may come out of you, you will start the process to being the best version of yourself.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Jaime Harry, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to begin your therapy journey or explore mental wellness options, please visit our Schedule of Wellness Counseling Sessions.
If you are not ready to begin therapy but would like to assess your mental health, please complete this anonymous survey UT Southwestern – Faculty and Staff Wellness (caresforyou.org).
“Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health.”
Jaime Harry
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Wellness Program Liaison
jaime.harry@utsouthwestern.edu
About the Author
Jaime Harry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Duke Certified Integrated Health and Wellness Coach. Jaime's passion is driven in Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Mental Wellness for all people.