The Benefits of Therapy during the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Benjamin Franklin once said. Society has created the myth that you have to be going through tough times or crisis to seek therapy. Let's talk about why seeking or staying in therapy is beneficial.

Through all of my years of work with clients, time and time again, I have seen the benefit of using the “good” moments to continue building skills and coping strategies. Consider the following metaphor: You’re driving to a new location. It’s nighttime and that sometimes makes it difficult to see the road if it is too dark or the opposite car has their high beams on. Its a new state in a new town, you’re tired–focused on getting to your destination to finally rest. You don’t pay attention to the places or people you pass. You have one goal and it's to get “there,” wherever “there” is for you. This is what it may feel like to start therapy in “crisis mode.” The client needs change, they are tired of having the same concerns, they want to find relief from their concerns. The only destination is relief and because this is a new place and its “nighttime” you have tunnel vision toward the goal.

Now consider this metaphor: You’re driving to a familiar location, you have been looking forward to this trip since the last time you went. You like this place because you know you are heard there, you know what to expect, and can laugh or cry without being judged. It’s a beautiful, bright fall day and you just had your favorite lunch before departing. You’re driving with your favorite album on, windows down feeling the cool breeze, noticing the transforming leaves on the trees and the cute dogs being walked by their owners.

The destination remained the same, but the journey in each scenario was a completely different experience– not better or worse, simply different. It would be a similar experience for a client who has been in therapy during moments of crisis and remains there. Without having to worry about symptoms or other distractions it is much easier to focus on understanding and implementing skills before moments get tough. Many times if you are able to learn to manage the small things you may even be able to prevent them from “stacking” and turn into bigger things that have a greater impact on your life. Just like you shouldn’t stop working out or eating healthy when you reach your healthy weight, you shouldn’t stop therapy because you feel better for a week or two.

Participating in therapy during the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly will help you continue to work on self-awareness, healthy habits and thinking patterns, and implementation of effective coping skills. Mental health can be worked on outside of moments of crisis!

So the next time you think you need to have an issue or a concern to be or stay in therapy, think again!