I was listening to a business news podcast the other day and the hosts were discussing how value is the thing that matters the most in an economy like the one we're in. It is the products and services that provide value that will survive inflation and layoffs. It's not necessarily the products or services that are the least expensive because we all know cheap things don't always last, but people want to know that they are getting their money's worth when they spend, because perhaps funds are a little tighter these days.
Naturally, I began to think about my own profession, and its merits in a value driven world. Is therapy a good value? Let's consider.
In an 80 year longitudinal study done by Harvard University, researchers found that it is relationship satisfaction that determines your overall happiness, and surprisingly, health.
Therapy helps with relationships immensely - because therapy is, in its essence, a trusting relationship with another human being. It is forming a connection with someone else, and having ourselves mirrored by that person in a healthy way. And this connection has the capacity to change us in our relationships at home or at work too. Again and again, I see clients own up to moments of shame, or perceived brokenness, and again and again I receive their stories with compassion and a loving presence. Being received this way, can help us to forge more intimate connections with our loved ones, because once you are brave enough to share your innermost feelings once, it is easier to be brave again.
Therapy will help you to have a better relationship with yourself. When you go to therapy with an issue in mind, you and your therapist will work on immediate strategies to improve, even just a little bit. Then, you will have a safe place to unpack the underlying issues that created the problem in the first place. You may be surprised at what you find here. This is the meat of the work - you will process and make meaning of the things that you find. Finally, you will be able to integrate the lessons that you learn from processing. You will leave more sure of who you are and with a different, more solidified perspective.
In short, therapy will help you to have better relationships - with yourself and others, which ultimately may be the key to lifelong happiness and health, according to Harvard researchers. As of 2021 the United States population spends over $4.3 Trillion dollars in healthcare annually. So yeah, I think therapy is worth it.
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