By: Carol Williams-Nickelson, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
1. You don’t have to be in crisis to seek help.
Psychologists and therapists can support you during life changes, help you work on changing or improving your relationships, or just help you to get to know yourself better. Preventative mental health care is as important as medical well-visits and check-ups.
2. You may have to search for a solution that is right for you.
You probably won’t find your perfect therapist, medication, or routine immediately. Almost everyone has to try multiple options or combinations of interventions to find what works best for them. Hang in there and you will find a good fit (and be so happy that you did)!
3. Your clinicians are there for YOU.
The #1 predictor of therapy success is your bond with your therapist. If you feel unsafe or if you’re just not vibing, ask to see someone else or for a referral.
Many clinicians choose not to be in-network with insurance companies because your clinician wants what’s best for you. Clinicians regularly face difficulties in a long and complex credentialing and contracting process, getting paid (and at very low rates) in a timely manner by insurance companies, as well as limits on sessions and treatment modalities imposed by insurance companies based on financial algorithms and not what is deemed by the therapist to be clinically appropriate for you.
4. Keep an open mind.
New research and innovations in psychological science and behavioral health mean that the field is constantly evolving. What works best for you might be just around the corner.
5. There is no cruise control along your path.
You have to do work if you want to heal. Medication may help quiet your symptoms, but real change and growth requires effort on your part.
6. You are not just a brain.
You have a mind, body, emotional, and spiritual soul. As a whole person, each part of you plays a role in your mental health and well-being.
7. Progress is not linear.
Your symptoms might get worse before they get better. You are going to have to examine many parts of your life so you can sort it all out, understand the impact, and move forward. Trust the process.
8. You don’t need to be symptom-free to be happy and thrive.
You can learn to live peacefully alongside your symptoms. The goal of therapy is a fulfilling life, not a symptom-free life.
9. Your brain’s job is to keep you alive.
That’s your brain’s biological function. If your brain stops trying to keep you alive, you can be sure that something has malfunctioned. Seek help.
10. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness.
True mental health is not a static state -- it is a journey that happens over a lifetime with rewards along the way that make the pursuit worthwhile.