Asian Avenue magazine

Spring cleaning – the time of year when homes get a thorough cleaning from the dirt, dust, and disorder that has snuck in throughout the year, especially during the holiday season. It’s a tradition most American families engage in to prepare for the arrival of spring. But our homes aren’t the only place that needs de-cluttering and re-organizing, our minds and souls do too. That’s why it’s a good idea to make it a practice to cleanse our minds from the mental dirt and stains we’ve picked up along the way, such as bad habits, poor communication styles, and negative thoughts. This is where therapy can be helpful.

Some might think, “Why do I need to go to therapy when I have family and friends I can talk to?” Talking with a therapist is different. Therapy is a unique relationship. In Carl Sherman’s book, How to Go to Therapy: Making the Most of Professional Help, he describes therapy as a balance in which two people are “collaborating on a single project: helping you deal with your problems and achieve the change you want. There is no other agenda.” From this perspective, seeking help from a therapist is seen as a sign of good health rather than of weakness or being “sick.” Your commitment to therapy is saying to others that you’re ready and willing to improve your quality of life. There’s nothing bad about that! In addition to helping you deal with your problems and achieve the change you want, there are other benefits of therapy:

Safety – Feeling safe with your therapist makes a big difference. When you feel safe, it is easier to talk about your fears, dreams and fantasies. And unlike telling your family or friends, your words to your therapist won’t come back to hurt you.

Confidentiality – People would have a difficult time opening up to a therapist if they knew that what they said was not kept confidential. Thus, your therapist is bound by ethics and law (except in a few cases) to keep conversations in sessions private.

As a result, therapy provides a safe haven, where you and your therapist can engage in an open and honest dialogue to help you explore your concerns in more depth. You can trust that your therapist is there to guide you without judgment, criticism or hidden agenda.

Learning – The therapist can help you look within to get a better understanding of who you are – why you do what you do, say the things you say, think the way you think and feel what you feel. Ultimately, the more you know yourself, the more equipped you are to handle things in life, like relationships, stress, loss, and change. Together with your therapist, many discoveries will be made about yourself and your experiences, all in the hopes that you will live life more fully and with more confidence and success.

Good mental health leads to positive self-esteem and satisfying relationships. Who wouldn’t want that? So while you’re doing your spring cleaning, consider also “sweeping” away bad habits, “checking” your thought/behavior patterns, and “dusting” your social skills.

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Article Provided by Dr. Dorothy Moon

Dorothy Moon, Psy.D., earned her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver.
She has experience working with adults, couples, children, and families in many different settings. Her specialties include relationship issues, cultural issues, stress and anxiety, trauma recovery, and integrating spirituality in therapy. For a free initial consultation, call 720.375.4071 or visit www.drdorothymoon.com.