Why Everyone Should Go To Therapy

Though there is sometimes a stigma around seeking care for mental health, there is truly no shame in psychiatric treatment. From traumatic situations to mental illness, therapy services can benefit most, if not all, people at some point in their lives.

Depression is a common mental illness in the United States, one that often benefits from seeing a psychotherapist. Though depression affects women more often by a margin of 70%, anyone can suffer from it, even children and adolescents. In fact, over 10% of all adolescents have been diagnosed with some type of depression by the time that they turn eighteen. Some depressions can be brought on by traumatic situations, but not all are. No matter what the cause, depression is very common – around 16,000,000 adults had one major depressive episode or more in 2012 alone. Though up to 50% of those suffering from depression do not seek treatment, it is important to take care of your mental health and treat your depression. Depression can have a negative impact on your life as a whole, costing around $80 million country wide in lowered productivity and healthcare. Antidepressants can be very helpful for sufferers of depression, though they can take up to six weeks to be fully effective, during which time a psychotherapist or psychiatrist monitors the patient closely. Talk therapy is also helpful, and most talk therapy treatments for depression last anywhere from ten to twenty weeks, though some people maintain good mental health by attending therapy sessions for much longer.

Aside from traumatic situations and mental illness, many people seek out a therapist for relationship problems. Relationship counseling can help couples face and overcome a number of problems, from infidelity to a lack of communication and more. Many couples seek counseling after it is discovered that one or both parties is having an affair, of which the average length is an astounding two years. 50% of couples who go to therapy recover immediately after the course of treatment is finished, with 70% considering themselves recovered within three months after completing therapy. Couples counseling gave over 90% of couples better coping skills and communication tools to handle their problems together, and the vast majority – almost 100% of survey respondents – said that they found their counselor to be helpful.

Seeking therapy, be it for traumatic situations, depression, or problems in your relationship can be difficult. It can be hard to admit that you need help. But seeking help is almost always beneficial and can provide coping strategies for years after the course of treatment is completed. It can help people lead productive lives and find happiness, as well as process difficult events in their lives.