Stress Therapy
Has Adulting Begun To Feel Impossible Lately?
Are you embarking on a new chapter of your life and you wish you had more guidance? Do you feel stressed, overwhelmed, and confused about what to do next?
Years ago, maybe you had a picture in your head of what your life would like now. Yet when you look at your life today, it’s probably nothing like you imagined it. While everyone else is making lots of money and getting into new relationships, perhaps you feel like you’re stuck on the sidelines. Or maybe you’ve already achieved your goals, but now you find yourself asking: What’s next? How do I find meaning and purpose in my life going forward?
Adulting is hard—there’s no sugarcoating it. It’s like you’ve been given a path without a roadmap. Whether you’re just starting college or you’re a young professional, the pressure to perform could make you incredibly anxious. Perhaps you feel like you’re working twice as hard to get half as far.
Additionally, if you’re a person of color, you might be dealing with microaggressions and unhealthy expectations from people who don’t know what it’s like to be in your shoes. This could make you extra wary of messing up.
When fear of failure is your number-one motivator, it’s hard to catch a break and allow yourself to rest. You’re always in a state of doing rather than being. But here at Introspective Counseling, we want to help you slow down, learn new stress management skills, and create a roadmap for the future that reflects your own individual idea of success.
Fear Of Failure Could Override Your Ability To Enjoy Life
Our Culture Teaches Us To Find Happiness In Other Things Rather Than In Ourselves
We live in a crazy, stressed-out world that teaches us to go, go, and go at all times. Competition is the name of the game—everyone is always trying to one-up each other with nicer houses, happier relationships, and higher-paying jobs.
Social media just adds fuel to the fire. We see beautiful, selfie-happy people all over our timelines living their dreams and making us feel left out. The constant exposure to other people’s highlight reels creates a false idea of success. It teaches us to look outward rather than inward, seeking happiness in other things instead of in ourselves.
For those of us in the Black community, there is extra pressure to perform and live up to expectations. Many of us are first-gen college students. We’re getting into workplaces that our parents and their parents never had access to
Although this means new opportunities, it also means new stressors. Sometimes it can feel like we’re out in uncharted territory, having to make decisions about finances and jobs that our families never got the chance to make.
As therapists, we’re here to help you navigate that uncharted territory and the stress that comes with it. You don’t have to go it alone.
As A Person Of Color, It’s Easy To Feel Like You’re In Uncharted Territory
Therapy Can Help You Manage The Stress Of Adulting And Define What Success Means To You
Oftentimes, people tell themselves that “If I just had that one thing, I’d be so much happier.” The problem is that that “one thing” is usually something that society has modeled as a potential giver of success. To truly experience happiness, we have to let go of society’s standards and look within ourselves.
At Introspective Counseling, we want to help you unlearn cultural ideas of success and define success in a way that makes sense for you. Your value does not depend on your productivity or your income. Our goal is to help you see this for yourself. Counseling is a chance to challenge your self-concept, achieve a healthier work-life balance, and reflect on what you really want out of life.
What To Expect In Stress Therapy Sessions
Let’s face it: you’ve probably got a lot on your plate. That’s why the first step of therapy is validation. We want to validate your experience of being human at a time when it feels nearly impossible. It’s okay to not be okay and not have your life figured out. Counseling can help you focus on what’s within your control and learn to prioritize self-care instead of getting hung up on external stressors.
On a deeper level, we want to help you get in touch with your values and create a definition of success that aligns with them. When you envision a successful life, what does it look like? How does it differ from society’s idea of success? Answering these questions can help you live a life that is rooted in your values rather than your fears.
Tailoring Your Stress Treatment Plan
We use a wide variety of approaches to help clients reduce their stress. One of the most important is mindfulness. We live in a world that’s obsessed with doing; mindfulness teaches the value of being. It can help you slow down and be present in the moment, allowing you to make choices based on rational deliberation instead of stress.
Additionally, we often use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The idea behind ACT is that most of the self-talk people engage in is limiting or restricting. By challenging your inner critic and changing the way you talk to yourself, you can open yourself up to more opportunities. You can remove self-imposed limitations and stop letting stress hold you back in life.
Ultimately, although we are here to help, we believe that the answers already lie within you. You have all the puzzle pieces—our mission is to help you put them together and partner with you on your journey to peace and wellness.
You May Have Some Questions About Therapy For Stress…
Doesn’t everyone get stressed? Why do I need therapy for it?
Yes, everyone gets stressed. But if you’re reading this page, it’s probably a sign that you could use some support, regardless of how “big” or “small” you think your struggles are. Besides, this isn’t a “Who has the worst life” contest. Anyone can benefit from therapy. If your stress is interfering with your ability to enjoy life, then it’s probably time to talk to a counselor.
Are you going to tell me that success doesn’t matter?
Our role is not to tell you what to do. Instead, we want to inspire a deeper reflection and help you learn to trust yourself and lean on your values. Everyone wants to be successful—there’s nothing wrong with that. In therapy, we’ll help you figure out what success means to you. Sometimes this means challenging unhealthy cultural standards, but it never means telling you that success doesn’t matter.
How do I know that therapy will work?
Nothing in life is 100-percent guaranteed. But your willingness to try something new speaks to your commitment, and commitment is the most important thing. What’s more, the client-therapist relationship is often the best indicator of whether therapy will be successful. By giving you a space to safely self-reflect and work through your emotions, we’re confident that therapy can help you find relief from your stress.
Embark On A New Chapter Of Your Life With Confidence
Right now, you probably wish that you had it all together. We’re here to tell you that it’s okay not to have it all together. We want to help you navigate uncertain times with confidence and peace of mind. To get started, you can fill out the contact form or call 248-242-5545.