Benefits
“The way we relate to ourselves shapes the way we relate to others.”
—Dan Siegel, Psychiatrist, author, and neurobiologist
Healing Washington started in part because of the success of my experiences in therapy. I am a big advocate for growth and healing. Here are some of the benefits that you may experience from therapy:
Bring the unconscious to a level of awareness.
All change begins with awareness, and by bringing thoughts, feelings and behaviors from a nonconscious level to consciousness, you may feel more empowered.
Reduce anxiety.
Sometimes anxiety is fear of the unknown. Awareness is the antidote: when it becomes known, the fear (anxiety) may begin to dissolve.
Improve emotional regulation.
We are emotional creatures. Emotions can overwhelm. Learning simple tools to increase emotional regulation, such as breathwork, meditation, and body-based exercises, can have a powerful effect.
Increase emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence is the capacity to hold multiple, perhaps competing, emotions at once; it is the ability to see yourself as others see you; and the skill of not taking things personally. It means being curious, not judgmental.
Integration.
On a neurobiological level, therapy is about integrating the left and right brain hemispheres, so that our thoughts are aligned with our feelings. This allows us to make intentional decisions while considering all parts of us. This is the opposite to impulsivity, which is driven by unconscious emotions and is an out-of-control behavior. For instance, your left (thinking) brain hemisphere knows that your ex-partner isn’t good for you, but your right (emotional) brain hemisphere still longs to be with them. When we focus on the right-brain hemisphere, thoughts and feelings come into alignment, often resulting in greater understanding and acceptance.
Increased coping strategies and resilience.
Everyone’s nervous system has a window of tolerance, or optimal arousal zone. The narrower it is, the more irritable or prone to shutdown we are. Therapy can help widen your window of tolerance, so that you are able to face difficult experiences without dread or collapse. In time, that old voice of your inner critic can be transformed into your biggest supporter!
Reparenting.
A lot of people find themselves in therapy because of unmet needs in childhood. For example, their need for acceptance was not met by their primary caregivers, or they were forced to grow up too soon. Therapy can look like a reparenting process, in which you identify what you feel is missing and choose to provide it to yourself. This may mean creating more time for spontaneity and joy – something that the child within you craves.
Learn and practice new relational skills.
We heal relational wounds relationally. The therapy room is a serene, controlled environment that may offer the safest space to risk and practice new relational behaviors. For example, a people-pleaser may learn that it’s not necessary to always seek approval. Instead, they can be truer to themselves.
Increased vulnerability.
Vulnerability is largely about risk: risk being seen, risk being rejected. Is it possible to connect with others without vulnerability? Coming to therapy is an act of vulnerability in itself.
Understanding one’s history.
Depending on how far you wish to go on your healing journey, you may begin to connect with your ancestors and understand the role that trauma and resilience has played in your lineage. Armed with this awareness, you may decide what you wish to keep, and what you’d like to let go of.
Disclaimer: The above list details benefits that I have observed in clients; what I have experienced in my personal therapy; and what my friends and colleagues have reported. While it is my intention that you will experience some of these for yourself, I am unable to guarantee any treatment outcomes.