It’s awful seeing a friend or loved one go through a tough time, especially when resources exist that could greatly reduce their suffering.
If someone you care about could benefit from therapy but you’re unsure how to broach the subject with them, here are some ways to nudge them in the right direction.
Let Them Know You’re There for Them
It’s best to approach the topic of therapy with these things in mind:
- your relationship with the person
- their demeanor
- their feelings about therapy overall
For example, your 70-year-old recently widowed father who you know could benefit from therapy may have a very different perspective of it than your 17-year-old daughter.
Start off by letting them know you’re here for them, however there are limits to what you’re able to provide.
Tell Them Therapists are Trained to Help
Grief, trauma, anxiety and depression, feeling lost, or experiencing a general sense of unease—therapists are trained to assist with a broad spectrum of issues.
Let your loved one know that working with a therapist is one of the best ways to restore clarity, put things into perspective, and establish a path forward.
Depending on whom you’re speaking with, let them know that therapists use a wide-range of treatment modalities—there’s a lot more to therapy than sitting and sharing your feelings with a stranger.
Let Them Know What’s In It For Them
As humans, we’re motivated by what’s in it for us.
Let your loved one know how much better their life could be—how much easier it will feel to get through the day. How incredible it will be to find clarity, and not be so consumed with anxiety, flashbacks, or whatever it is that’s haunting them.
Therapy can help. Share that in a way that will get your friend or loved one motivated… or at least curious enough to try.
Listen to Their Concerns
Maybe they have a really outdated idea of what therapy actually is, and are worried they’ll get locked up or electrocuted.
Maybe they are worried they won’t find a therapist they can trust, or someone who understands them.
Listen to their concerns, and reassure them that therapy is a professional at-will interaction. If they don’t mesh well with the therapist, there are plenty of others out there who can help.
If You’ve Seen a Therapist, Share Your Experience
Sharing your experience working with a therapist can be extremely helpful.
If you felt trepidation before undergoing the process—share that too.
It’s normal to feel apprehensive when undergoing something new, and even more so when the subject is you and your psyche.
It’s also pretty normal when going through a mental health challenge to feel as though you’re so screwed up that you’re beyond help.
It’s normal to feel as though your issue, your situation is different, and here’s a long list of why you can’t be helped.
If you’re clear about why you think they could benefit from therapy—all the ways it can help them through their current situation—they may at least entertain the notion.
At the Relationship Therapy Center, we’re always happy to share more about what we do. Let your loved one know they’re free to call and speak with us directly. We’d love to hear from them, and share more about how we can help.
Therapy in Roseville, CA, Fair Oaks, CA, or Online in California:
If you are ready to change for the better, we can help. Our therapists are ready to support you in your journey towards creating a healthy and happy lifestyle. To begin counseling in Roseville, CA area, or counseling in Fair Oaks, please follow these three simple steps:
- 1. Contact our counseling office to get more information about what therapy would be best for you and to schedule a free consultation.
- 2. Make an appointment with one of our highly trained therapists
- 3. Find support and healing in your life!
Services Offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville, CA and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our services include but are not limited to: Couples counseling, counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Our individual therapy services include, anxiety treatment, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. We also offer online counseling to California residents. Please contact our office to learn more about the many ways we can help you and your loved ones.