Benefits & Risks

Many people who attend therapy do so because they want help with one or several specific issues in their lives. Therapy can help people gain awareness, shift towards more helpful patterns of living, and resolve emotional difficulties, among other benefits. With regard to some specific issues, therapy can help in the following ways:

• Anger/aggression – People who wrestle with regulating their emotions can develop the skills to access and express their full range of emotions

• Anxiety – One can become calmer and develop coping strategies for everyday stressors

• Depression – People can become happier and find greater purpose in life

• Grief and loss – People can learn how to move forward in life while still honouring who or what was lost

• Relationship issues – Issues can be resolved and can lead to more harmonious, respectful, and loving partnerships

• Trauma – Survivors of trauma can develop a greater sense of safety, self-worth, and agency leading to richer and fuller lives

• Deeper understanding of self/needs/wants/life-purpose – For people who feel disconnected from their own needs, desires, and purpose in life, therapy can help them explore and uncover who they are, who they want to become, and ways to attain what is important to them.

• Improved overall sense of wellness – Therapy can help people discover multiple ways to enhance and maintain their sense of well-being outside of, and beyond, the therapy session.

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RISKS

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Counselling and psychotherapy are not completely risk-free. The following outlines some of the potential risks of participating in therapy:

• Experiencing difficult/painful emotions – Oftentimes, mental health difficulties are related to unexpressed emotions. It is through the experiencing and expression of these difficult emotions—in a safe environment with a trained therapist—that a person can begin to overcome and manage their mental health difficulties.

• Revisiting painful memories – Therapy often involves talking and thinking about past experiences and memories some of which may be painful and difficult to revisit. It is important that memories are only explored when you are ready and at your own pace.

• Feeling worse before feeling better – Related to the two points above, as a person progresses through therapy, revisits painful memories, and experiences difficult emotions, it is common for them to feel as though their mental health and wellness are getting worse before they are getting better. I will check-in with you regularly to understand how therapy is going for you.