You Don't Have To Be Falling Apart To Seek Out Support
Lately, I've been hearing so many stories of people reaching a mental health crisis. While I know that not every crisis can be prevented, I can't help but wonder how different our communities might look if we thought about mental health differently.
We've embraced the idea that prevention matters in almost every area of our health. We go for routine dental cleanings and eye exams. We understand that taking care of ourselves before something becomes a crisis is simply part of living a healthy life. When it comes to our mental health, however, we still have a long way to go.
When I first opened Laura Gatien & Associates, I wasn't planning to build a counselling practice. I was hoping to change the way we think about mental health. My dream has always been a world where going to therapy is as ordinary and as accepted as going to the dentist. Where mental health is seen as health. I truly believe that if we embraced this way of thinking, we could help more people receive support before they reached a crisis.
I imagine a world where people come and go from therapy throughout different seasons of their lives. We seek support during difficult life seasons, when new challenges arise, relationships break down, when we're entering a new stage of life, our careers shift, we experience loss, or sometimes when we simply need a little extra support.
That's not failure. That's being human. One of the things I hear most often from people who are considering returning to therapy is that they're worried they'll be "starting over." I see it differently. You don't lose the work you've already done. You don't lose the insight you've gained, the coping strategies you've learned, or the progress you've made. You bring all of that with you.
Returning to therapy isn't starting over. It's continuing to care for yourself. As you read this, I'd encourage you to ask yourself one simple question: Do I treat my mental health with the same care and intention that I treat my physical health?
Whether it's with us or with another trusted therapist, I encourage you to take a moment to honestly reflect on how you're doing. If you've been carrying more than you should have to carry alone, perhaps this is your reminder that you don't have to wait until you're in crisis to ask for support.
And if now isn't the right time, I hope you'll remember this message when life inevitably changes again.
Because you don't have to be falling apart to seek out support.