Did you know that methods akin to ‘therapy’ have existed for thousands of years? In Ancient Egypt, temple priests and doctors used music, painting, and walks in nature to calm anxiety and console grief. Similarly, in Ancient Greece, healing often involved a combination of herbal remedies, spoken words, and even dream analysis. We’ve come a long way since then. Now, we have multiple evidence-based therapy approaches to heal the mind and body.
So, what exactly is ‘therapy’? Think of therapy as a process of healing one’s emotional wounds, whether through talking (usually) or non-verbal methods (e.g., art therapy). Now, therapy isn’t meant to ‘cure’ or eliminate our emotional wounds. That is not possible. Instead, it creates the conditions necessary for healing to take place naturally.
Say, you have a physical wound. The doctor treats you by inspecting the wound, cleaning it, stitching it, bandaging it, and then letting it heal on its own, maybe with medication if needed. Notice how the healing happens naturally on its own. That’s because our body and mind have an intrinsic ability to heal itself. But we must first provide the right conditions for healing, which is what doctors help with!
That’s what therapy is too! Therapists will first understand your emotional wound(s), then create the optimal conditions for healing, like a safe, caring, non-judgmental space to process your deep emotions and thoughts. And therapists will also use other therapeutic techniques and provide you tools to aid the healing process.
Just like physical wounds, emotional wounds take time and consistent care to heal. In fact, emotional healing may oftentimes take longer than physical healing. This is because emotional wounds often involve deeper layers of personal experience, and the healing process isn’t always linear. This is why it’s crucial to show up to therapy consistently—to give yourself the time and space needed to heal and grow.
So, therapists can’t directly ‘fix’ your problems or ‘cure’ your wounds per se. Only you can do that because you have the natural ability to heal. Now, this might not sound like good news because who wouldn’t want a ‘magical’ pill or doctor that could fix all our issues, right? But it actually is good news because this means you are not fully dependent on anyone or anything to heal. You have the innate power to heal yourself! But of course, you don’t have to do it alone. Healing is a collaborative process and your therapist will guide and support you, providing the right conditions and tools to help you unlock your own healing potential.
Thanks for reading! I hope you understand ‘therapy’ better now. If you’re ready to begin your healing journey, I’m here to support you. Book a session with me today, and let’s create the right conditions for your emotional healing and growth!
Written by Keen Ji, licensed counsellor. To learn more about me, check out my Therapist Profile.
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