Have you ever heard the phrase “Everyone benefits from therapy”? You don't need to have a diagnosable ailment, a life that's on fire, or even is fighting to get through the day to start counseling. So, if you're wondering “Do I need therapy?”, the answer is “most likely”! 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, psychotherapy, often known as talk therapy, can help you identify and alter problematic beliefs, actions, and emotions. 

Working with a certified mental health professional through talk therapy can help you get to the bottom of those feelings, thoughts, or cravings that are keeping you from living the life you want to live.

Here are ten compelling reasons why you should go for it.

1. You'll learn how to be kinder to yourself

If your worst judge is yourself, psychotherapy might help you learn how to love yourself. Can't get yourself to quit talking to yourself at work or while getting dressed in the morning? When you're having a poor day, a therapist can teach you how to communicate with less judgment and let go of unpleasant thoughts. This could entail developing the practice of treating oneself as if you were someone you care about. 

A mental health professional can point you on the correct path, but you must also attempt to be kind to yourself when it matters.

2. You can break habits that you’ve been trying to quit forever 

Sure, it may be smoking, but it could also be lashing out at people you care about. A therapist can help find the elements that drive those behaviors and, once you understand the why behind them, can help you figure out how to address that need or satisfy that why more healthily or positively. There are other treatment centers and individual therapists that specialize in addiction. 

3. You can learn to ask for help when you need it

Therapy allows you to identify areas where you are having difficulty getting assistance and why. Perhaps you were chastised for seeking help, mocked for needing aid, or were constantly rewarded for going above and beyond for anyone other than yourself. All of this can make it difficult to advocate for yourself and trust others to be there for you. 

However, learning to ask for what you need via psychotherapy can establish productive partnerships in which you both seek and give aid.

4. You can set important boundaries

Maybe you take on too many work assignments, or you don't know how to say no to weekend plans even when you're exhausted. Therapy can educate you on how to recognize your boundaries and where to draw the line. It can also educate you on how to set different boundaries with your boss or coworkers than you would with a significant other or friend. You can also role-play with your therapist to rehearse how you would manage boundary discussions with others.

5. You’ll learn how to build stronger relationships

Maybe you're having the same argument with your partner all the time, or you're unsure how to handle a strained relationship with your mother. You can go to individual therapy to talk about how to best negotiate conflict and promote closeness if that's what you need, but you can also try family or couple's therapy, which focuses on working alongside the people you're having trouble getting along with. 

6. You’ll face your feelings instead of avoiding them 

In some cases, suppressing your emotions is acceptable. But if you keep pushing your feelings away, they will ultimately boil over.

You'll be more equipped to learn and develop from challenging situations and convey what you need to others if you work with a therapist to address emotions you'd otherwise neglect.

7. You can overcome your fears

If you're terrified of something specific, especially if it's a full-blown phobia, you can confront it via exposure treatment. You will do the things that your anxiety or trauma would like you to avoid. 

She adds that if traumatic memories are bothering you, a therapist may utilize prolonged exposure therapy to help you confront events that trigger those memories.