Ultimately, therapist can be a useful treatment method to treat mental health problems. The issues that people come into therapy with really vary. It is similar to the issues that people show up to the doctor’s office with. There are those go to the doctor’s office to treat a mild cough and those that are going to treat a severe flu etc. Similarly, people enter therapy for help in managing some mild anxiety and others enter therapy to treat severe trauma. The therapist will focus on what the patient would like to address in therapy and develop a treatment plan that is appropriate for addressing those specific symptoms. Probably one of the major differences between the doctor’s office and a therapist’s office is the type of treatment. We cannot see people only once a month and say a few things in 1 hour that will resolve a lifetime of trauma. The therapy process will involve meeting with a therapist on a regular basis to resolve issues and practice new skills to better manage emotions.
Although you have gone through some horrible experiences it does not necessarily mean that you automatically need therapy. Similarly, I do not suggest that every veteran that went to war and experienced horrible things automatically needs to come see me. It is ultimately their choice if they feel the need to seek out therapy. There are military veterans who witness and experience horrible things during war yet do not develop severe mental illness while others do. That’s ok. These individuals have found their own healthy way to express emotions and not let those horrible events affect the way they are living their lives.
Moreover, it is important to note that therapist do not diagnose everyone who experiences some anxiety or some sadness with a mental health condition. I think our society has developed this idea that there are actually “good” and “bad” emotions. This idea is ultimately false. If we did not experience the feelings of worry or sadness to some extent, then we would not survive as species. These emotions are helping in recognizing that something is wrong, and we need to process emotions or talk about a problem. Also, society has continued to tell us that we need to be happy all the time. We refer to this in therapy as the “happiness trap”. It is impossible for us to be happy all the time and this is not the natural emotional state of humans. The natural emotional state of humans is actually to experience multiple emotions. Being able to experience multiple emotions is what makes us humans.
Now, some of the things you describe I can try to conceptualize and begin to label these things as possible symptoms related to a history of trauma. However, the way I actually come to a determination that someone is having a mental health disorder is that the person admits that these things are affecting their lives in different ways and they do not like it. So if people realize that these thoughts or behaviors are affecting their ability to form relationships and they no like this then they could be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and then we can develop a treatment plan to address these things.
The next part to the question is what will therapy do for you. Again this is a process of working on issues related to emotions. Thus, it involves talking about uncomfortable things. People do not usually come into therapy to talk about how great their lives are and that there is nothing wrong. People usually come in to talk to me about the very awful things they’ve been through. We focus on getting passed these memories and emotions by no longer avoiding them. We work in therapy to not fear the memories or uncomfortable feelings. Also, we no longer let the traumatic events guide how we are going to live our lives. Patients focus on identifying their values and trying to live closer to those values. For example, if they value relationships then they focus on developing healthier relationships.
I should warn though that therapists will not work harder than their patients in therapy. A therapist cannot want you to get better more than you want yourself to get better. Thus, you have to feel that you are ready to start making at least some changes and open to hearing a different perspective. As a therapist and human I can read your message and identify that there have been some horrible things that have happened and seem to still affect you to some extent. However, I will never force you into therapy or try to sell you the idea of therapy. If a person feels that these things are affecting them enough then I am here to listen and start helping to make changes when they are ready.
Get Started
Book a free 15-minute phone call with me.
Carrasco Psychological Health Services 
Leave a comment