Why Therapy Is A Part Of My Formation

As I sat in the waiting room, I wondered how I got to this point. Therapy wasn’t a foreign concept for me; it was something that I had gone to throughout my adolescence. My parent’s divorce was pretty rough, and therapy helped me get through that season, but I was over that. Now, I was getting to meet my therapist because of my job. I had hit a rough patch, working harder than I ever had before, stretching myself to thin, and no matter what I tried, I was spiraling towards burnout.

I remember feeling a little bit of embarrassment and some shame. I thought I was above it and that I could sort out the rest with exercising and praying more. However, my runs were frustrating, and my prayer time was being put off. My mind was too busy, it was overwhelmed, and I needed someone who was going to help me extract it, sort it, and make sense of it all. Therapy isn’t the perfect solution to your problem; it’s a strategy where you get help to clear your mind.

It’s not a foreign concept, we do this in other areas of our life, for example, our:

PHYSICAL HEALTH. If you want to get physically healthy, you need to eat right and workout. But, let’s say you don’t know how to do those things, and maybe when you’ve tried, you end up relapsing or injuring yourself. That’s when you get a trainer or a dietician.

SPIRITUAL WELLBEING. There are spiritual exercises that increase your relationship with God. If you get stuck, you join a small group or find a spiritual director. By having people accompany you in your faith journey, you find accountability.

When it comes to seeing a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist, it’s addressing some of your emotional and intellectual health. Yes, being physically healthy and a stable prayer life may address many of the issues, but sometimes you need a little bit more. I look at my therapist as someone I can regurgitate all the noise in my head.

I think there is a stigma we need to kick when it comes to mental health. Ministry, like any area of life, is filled with hurt and if that hurt isn’t addressed it’s going to eat at you. I’ve met way too many people who have burned out or sacrificed family because they didn’t take care of themselves. In addition to boosting your prayer life and taking care of yourself physically talking to a mental health professional can be beneficial. If you’ve never been to a mental health professional, here’s what you need to know:

There are different types of therapy

If you aren’t sure what’s best for you, talk to your primary care physician. They can assist you to see whether you need a psychotherapist, psychologist, etc. If you know someone who has been in therapy before asking them to but going to your PCP is pretty simple.

It’s not always expensive

Your insurance may or may not cover it. If they don’t, there are plenty of professionals that will work on a sliding schedule. You can also control how often you go, and a good therapist will work with you on your budget.

No two mental health professionals are alike

Not only are there different types of therapy, but the approach that each person takes differ. Take the time to interview, and if after a few sessions you don’t feel a connection move on, it’s okay they can make it.

Mental health therapy isn’t anti-faith

Every therapist I’ve ever met with has supported me in my faith (Even the ones who weren’t Catholic). Their objective isn’t to get you to think a certain way; it’s to help you know yourself so you can best navigate through the world. If you don’t know where to start to reach out to your diocese or visit CatholicTherapist.com.

Therapy isn’t a replacement for a spiritual director, nor is it a substitute for Confession, but it’s a great way to tackle some of the pain or hurt that comes with life. It’s also something you shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed to admit to doing. Going to therapy doesn’t mean your crazy; it merely means you are working on your brokenness, something we all have, and in my mind, that’s pretty healthy.

Where have you seen the fruits of therapy?

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