Why therapy is the best investment
What's the best investment you've ever made in yourself?
Is it a home? Education? Financial investments such as stocks and shares? Health? Health is wealth"!
One of the best investments I ever made in my life was seeing a therapist privately. I’d had therapy in the past several times in the form of counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
But, I knew I needed more and I wanted a therapeutic approach that would help me deal with my issues, which were very deep - instead of ranting, venting and scratching the surface.
I tried to get help for my mental health via the NHS but I didn’t have much luck. I was either rejected (without an assessment, which is shocking), signposted for services I wasn’t eligible for and unable to access, or expected to jump through hoops - something I wasn’t willing to do for my mental health.
I realised that I would have a hard time getting the type of help I needed, and I knew I could get the type of help I was looking for by going private, so that’s why I did.
Side note: I am very aware of how lucky and privileged I am to be able to consider private therapy as an option. As a Black person, I know how hard this can be, so if you really need therapy but can’t afford to go private, please reach out to Black Minds Matter UK for help and support.
After doing my research and checking accreditation, I embarked on my therapy, personal development and self-improvement journey. I started seeing my therapist in October 2019 and since then, I've changed and my life has improved immensely. My life has completely transformed, my mindset has changed and I’ve been able to love and embrace my authentic self. Best of all, I’m finally living a life at my own pace, on my own terms and in alignment with my personal values.
Why therapy is the best investment
I've gone from suffering in toxic interpersonal relationships to thriving in interpersonal relationships that bring me immense joy.
I used to experience strife and a lack of freedom and autonomy in interpersonal relationships, but now I’m in interpersonal relationships where I feel ease and I have my freedom and my voice back.
I’ve switched from living a life full of trauma, pain, mistreatment, misery, bullying and unnecessary suffering and struggle, to living a life that brings me inner peace, joy, abundance and harmony.
I've been able to move forward and live in the present. I've embarked on a healing journey that allows me to grow, thrive and flourish. I have higher levels of self-esteem and self-love. I practise self-care on a regular basis. I'm strong, confident, assertive, determined to go after what I deserve and unafraid to live life on my own terms.
It’s not easy though. The process is very challenging and time-consuming. It takes time to heal and break bad habits and unhelpful coping mechanisms. Sometimes it’s difficult and I used to be quite hard on myself, but I’ve learned to give myself grace and compassion and to keep going on this journey.
My counselling sessions take a person-centered approach. This is very helpful for me and my therapist is very empathetic, supportive and understanding.
The sessions are led by me, with my therapist supporting and guiding me in the best way. The sessions offer a safe space, judgement-free and criticism-free zone, and this allows me to freely explore my thoughts and openly express my feelings with no external influence or pressure.
“Your new life will cost you your old one.”
Therapy changed my mindset, my perceptions, my beliefs and everything I thought I knew. It caused me to re-evaluate everything, and that meant that I had to make some radical changes. I have:
Let go of self-limiting beliefs
Quit toxic bosses and workplaces
Ditched friendships and interpersonal relationships that were dragging me down
Quit living in houseshares and flatshares with random people because this was making me unhappy and ruining my quality of life
Changed my living situation by relocating to a different part of the country and moving into a nicer flat.
I lost a lot, but gained my current life - the one that I truly deserve.
I did all of this because therapy made me see the reality of my past situations. I realised that I couldn’t move forward and live the life of my dreams if I was trapped in my old, miserable life. I am incredibly ambitious and I have a vision for my dream life. I have a head full of dreams and goals I want to achieve, and I knew I couldn’t accomplish those things and live my new life if I was trapped in my old one and stuck in the past.
Thanks to therapy, I’ve been able to step into the present, change my life in dramatic fashion over the last year or so and enter a new chapter in my life that’s much more in alignment with my desires and values.
All in all…
Therapy allowed me to get in tune with my authentic self. It literally saved my life and my mind. It gave me my life back and it gave me the power to take charge of my trajectory. I’m now at a point in my life where I possess autonomy, freedom, harmony and peace.