Why You Should Consider Seeing a Therapist & How to Find One

In 2019, it was estimated that around 40.2 million adults in the U.S. received mental health treatment or counseling at some time in the previous year. – Center for Disease Control

The COVID-19 pandemic brought an unprecedented amount of stress, change, and distress to many people worldwide.  Many found support in adapting to the pandemic through therapy; however, it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t need a worldwide crisis to justify seeing a therapist.

I think everyone should be in therapy. Unfortunately, our society has set an unnecessary stigma around therapy and mental health. I think of therapy like this: if you break your arm, you seek out a professional to help you, you don’t continue along the days, months, and years trying to fix it yourself, all the while suffering with a broken arm. Nope. You seek medical attention. It’s the same thing with therapy!  Many people have traumas and issues from the past that can weigh you down. A therapist is trained to help you live your best possible life now by healing mental hang-ups.

I’ve had patients share with me that they’ve “walled-up the past and don’t want to go to therapy because it’s going to just drudge it up.” I can understand why someone would be hesitant if you’ve moved on from something traumatic or upsetting, living in the past would seem counterproductive. If you don’t want to talk about a certain thing or are not ready, your therapist will listen and respect your boundaries. Typically, within your first few therapy sessions, your therapist will focus on getting to know you and understanding how you view the world. They are an excellent person to get an objective opinion about your thoughts, ideas, fear, and worries.  They are someone who can role-play difficult conversations you may need to have with other in your life or even yourself. Think of therapists as being an advocate for your mental health.

How do you find a therapist?  

I recommend psychologytoday.com to my patients seeking mental health professionals, since you can search within your area using your zip code and narrow down your search using various filters (which insurances they take, their expertise, method type, etc).  Each therapist writes their own bio and includes a photo, so you really get a good sense of who they are and decide if they might be a good fit.

Other options (especially if you don’t have insurance):

24/7 Crisis Lines
If you ever find yourself in a dark place and need to speak with someone, there are the following resources available 24/7. You can be anonymous and they will assist with intervention, support, and information.

Have more questions? Make an appointment with Dr. Chan at Lotus Health to receive healthcare tailored to your individual health needs.