I have a confession…
I haven’t been to therapy in a while, and for some reason I feel bad about that. Not because I think I need therapy, but because it seems like there is this message that everyone should be in therapy all the time.
Let me explain, It took me a really long time to find a good therapist and when I did I worked really really hard to gather all the tools I needed for a lifetime of healthy living. I put in the work and learned a lot about myself and what I needed to get myself through times of sadness and depression. It’s not that I think I know everything there is to know about mental wellness, I learn about that all the time. It’s just that I know the things that work for me and as long as that is happening and I feel like I am in a good place I chose not to do therapy at this time.
I will be discussing these online, in-person and "no" therapy on a new show that I launched with Neil Parekh, “Shining Light on Shadows: A Candid Conversation About Mental Health.” Dr. Grace Hipona, a therapist based in Northern Virginia, will be our guest.
You can watch the live show or recording on Facebook, Twitter*, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram* and Neil's website.
*We won't know the exact urls for Twitter and Instagram until we go live, but for now, these links go to Neil's Twitter and Dawn's Instagram pages.
Having said that I believe STRONGLY in therapy. Heck I don’t know if I would be here right now without it. I credit it to saving my life. I often think about going back and how easy it would be to do that with telehealth.
I think telehealth is a great option for some people, but not for everyone. I know that my son tried using it, and for him it wasn’t the answer. He decided that the motivation to get out and see someone was easier for him than committing to telehealth.
I have heard from colleagues of mine that are therapists that telehealth can be difficult for young people in terms of privacy. Going to therapy in your living room with your parents right here breaches confidentiality. Being able to talk candidly or finding a safe, quiet space can also be a challenge. But the convenience of doing therapy online is something that was never an option when I was in therapy. At that time though I think I might have been like my son. Going to therapy was really hard for me and I might have found ways to get out of it if I didn’t make the commitment to show up.
I think that everyone has the right to choose what works best for them. I continue to practice mindfulness, grounding and breathing as I work through this very crazy life. Take what works best for you and use that to help you get through all the things that life puts in front of you.
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