Our passion at Connected Roots, where we offer therapy in Boulder, is to help people connect with themselves and others.
Here are 7 things you might learn about yourself in therapy:
#1 You Are OK
Sometimes in our society, people assume that seeking therapy means there is something wrong with oneself. This is simply not true. Every human on the planet must cope with problems, stress, doubt, fear, overwhelm, and so many other challenges.
The pandemic, for example, is a stressful event that caught everyone off-guard. More people than usual sought therapy for a variety of reasons, which was a good choice. Life is full of unexpected events that affect your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Seeking therapy doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. In fact, when you ask a therapist, “What’s wrong with me?” - don’t be surprised if the answer is “nothing.” You are a human being simply doing your best to deal with the challenges of life. Like everyone else, you standto benefit from therapy.
Therapy doesn’t require a diagnosis… and sometimes all you need is a safe space to talk. Even if you discover you suffer from depression or an anxiety disorder, so do millions of other people just like you.
#2 Your Upbringing Affects You More Than You Realize
Most parents do their best as they raise us to succeed in society. However, even in the most functional of families, the reality is that parents are human. So, despite their best intentions, they are fallible. It’s perfectly fine to love your parents while exploring how your upbringing has impacted you as an adult.
You might discover thought patterns ingrained in you from childhood that aren’t serving you well, which is the first step toward making positive change… and is not necessarily a reflection on your parents or other caregivers.
At Connected Roots, we have a therapist trained in the Internal Family Systems or “parts work” approach. She empowers clients to use the skills they learn in sessions to resolve internal conflicts resulting from their upbringing or current family dynamics, and to work towards healing.
#3 You May Be Too Hard On Yourself Through Negative Self-Talk
When you are wrapped up in your daily life, it’s difficult to take a subjective view of your behaviors and thought patterns. You may be so busy that you don’t often pause for self-reflection.
Therapy methods like Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) allow for correcting negative thought patterns with the guidance of a professional. Taking a step back and examining how you speak to yourself internally sometimes reveals negative patterns.
For example, you may mentally beat yourself up over your perceived role in a failed relationship. Therapy guides you to understand you are not solely at fault for the relationship’s end. Altering negative thought patterns in these situations helps prepare you for success in your next relationship. Your mental health is improved anytime you change thought processes from negative to positive.
Negative self-talk leads to poor self-esteem, depression, and possibly anxiety-related conditions. Self-talk often develops in childhood and becomes ingrained by adulthood. It doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong, but rather practicing learned behavior that might be tied back to survival mechanisms.
The good news is once you recognize negative self-talk, a therapist can teach you how to change, and work towards improvement in your mental well-being.
#4 Your Reactions To Your Feelings Are Normal
A lot of women are taught to suppress anger starting in childhood. However, anger is a normal human emotion that comes with life. On the other hand, men are trained as young boys not to cry when they feel pain, yet crying is a healing (and hard-wired) way humans cope with pain.
In the safe space of therapy, these feelings and reactions are free to be expressed. It’s not a sign of weakness or an indication of anything “wrong” when you react to your feelings.
Emotions are part of being human and feelings are natural to that state of being. Discovering this in therapy is often a freeing experience for many patients. Pent-up feelings can develop into larger problems. By realizing that your innate reactions to feelings are normal, it is easier to release them and be your authentic self.
#5 You’re Not Alone In Your Feelings Or Experiences
Grief, stress, anxiety, and depression are all lonely experiences, but they are also part of the human experience. While these are isolating feelings by nature, therapy allows you to see that you are not alone in your experiences, which can bring relief and empathy. At our facility, we offer therapy in Boulder that connects people with others in similar life experiences.
Group therapy is sometimes more effective than individual therapy in helping people acquire new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The effectiveness is enhanced when group members are encouraged to practice new behaviors, both within the group and outside of it.
#6 You Are Stronger Than You Realize
When talking through issues in therapy, it dawns on many people that they are indeed strong. Sometimes this may require a nudge from a therapist, but regardless of when this truth is revealed, it’s empowering. In our culture, we don’t always take time to reflect on our strength. Gaining this awareness in therapy helps you deal with current challenges and prepare for future ones. Realizing your strength impacts your self-confidence positively.
#7 You Are Resilient And Possess Incredible Potential
Therapy is not always an easy choice. However, it is a brave one. This is especially true when other humans are counting on you for their well-being. Because of this, seeking therapy can be viewed as an act of love. Such acts of love speak well of who you are as a person and your inner strength to prevail against the challenges of life.
A therapist is an ideal guide to shine light on your positive qualities in difficult times. While therapy reveals things you may need to change, it also highlights your strengths. When you realize your strengths in the light of adversity, your true potential is unleashed.
Connected Roots Provides Therapy In Boulder
Connected Roots empowers people to realize authentic growth. When you contact us to discuss therapy in Boulder, we will inspire your sense of connection with yourself and others. We also incorporate connections with nature into our therapy to promote grounding in the present.
If you are interested in the benefits of therapy in Boulder at Connected Roots, please contact us right away!