As its Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12- 18), I wanted to share some thoughts on therapy and perhaps give you some insights as to why it might be the missing chapter in your story. As part of the ‘baby boomers’ generation therapy was seen still as only for those having a ‘nervous breakdown’, the rich, or indeed Americans ! However let’s just say it: therapy has had a bit of a rebrand. Once whispered about like a dirty little secret—something only for people “with problems”—it’s now (thankfully) being embraced as the mental health equivalent of going to the gym. But still, for many of us, especially those of us over 40 who’ve been raised to just “get on with it,” the idea of sitting down with a stranger and talking about our feelings can feel… awkward. Or indulgent. Or terrifying.
Here’s the thing: therapy isn’t about being broken.
It’s about being human. And it’s becoming increasingly common to talk about it openly—just recently, Michelle Obama shared that she’s been having therapy, reminding us that even the most accomplished, composed people benefit from taking time to explore their inner world.
As a therapist, I often meet people who’ve spent years putting others first. They’re brilliant at coping, managing, smoothing things over, and smiling through. But somewhere in all that effort, they’ve lost their own voice. That’s where therapy can be so powerful—because it gives you a space that’s entirely yours. No judgment, no expectations, and absolutely no need to keep it all together.
And I say this not just from the other side of the couch, but as someone who has also had therapy myself. I know how nerve-wracking it can feel to open up. I also know how deeply freeing it is when you realise you don’t have to keep carrying everything alone. I had spent years just getting on with it, and then something seemed to break inside, and I have never been so thankful that someone was there to hear my story, and understand me.
However you don’t have to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. It’s not just for breakdowns or big life events (though it’s great for those too). It’s for the quiet confusion, the low hum of anxiety, the sense that something isn’t quite right even when everything looks fine on paper. It’s for understanding your patterns, your past, and your possibilities.
And let’s not forget that therapy isn’t always about the hard stuff. There can be laughter. There can be joy. Sometimes, even humour slips in between the cracks of realisation. You might cry, yes, but you’ll also sigh with relief. You’ll feel seen. And most importantly, you’ll start to see yourself with a little more kindness. You may even start to look forward to having that ‘space’ that is yours to feel you are giving yourself and your emotions the attention you & they deserve.
One of the biggest myths I hear is, “But what if I go and it makes things worse?” And to that I say: avoidance never truly brings peace. Therapy might stir things up a bit at first—it’s like clearing out an old cupboard—but the relief of not stepping over the same mess every day is well worth it.
Sometimes we just need someone to help us connect the dots. Sometimes we need someone to remind us we’re allowed to take up space. Therapy does that.
Therapy is not all crying and childhood wounds.
Sometimes there’s laughter, lightbulb moments, and even the odd bit of swearing (therapists are human too, I promise).
So if you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I should talk to someone…”, consider this your nudge. Not because you’re failing, but because you deserve more than just ‘coping’. You deserve support, insight, and a space to truly be seen.
And if you’re thinking, “It’s probably not for me,”—well, that’s often the biggest clue that it might be exactly what you need.
Therapy is for the overwhelmed, the curious, the healing, the tired, the searching. Therapy is for anyone brave enough to admit they want more from life.
And yes, therapy is for you.
Do you need to talk to someone? Contact our wonderful author, therapist Mary Griffin here. She offers a free 45mins consultation to give her potential clients the ability to assess whether she is the right therapist to work with on their issues.
Mary is one of our regular authors, you can read more of her articles here: https://elysiumlifestylemagazine.com/writer/mary-griffin/
