“Therapy Has Shown Me Things Can Get Better If You Seek Help”
Initially, the client was hesitant about seeking out counseling. She had seen other therapists in El Paso and felt like she had been given advice instead of being heard. “I pushed myself to continue with counseling because I wanted to take control over my mental illness.” By keeping consistent with treatment, client was able to increase her own tolerance for stress, recognize her own self-worth and develop coping skills in order to take back her life from the extreme sadness and anxiety she once felt on a daily basis. Despite the client being resistant to feeling uncomfortable in the early stages of therapy, she now realizes that it was necessary in order to grow. “Sometimes getting poked a little is a good thing. It’s helpful because that’s how you learn. Therapy has shown me that things can get better if you seek help. Two years ago there were times where I couldn’t even get out of bed.”
Overcoming Anxiety
By reaching out to Family Services, a client with severe social anxiety was able to obtain some clarity and acceptance through therapy and a proper diagnosis. “I didn’t want to believe my diagnosis. But deep down, I knew it explained a lot. It made sense for why some things have been this way. And it also motivates me to fight harder because I want to be happy.” Prior to consistent counseling, the client had left school and would spend most days isolated at home due to experiencing high levels of anxiety. A year later, he has now gone back to school and is much more hopeful about his future, “I want to graduate with honors. I want to make the people who care about me proud.” He even has plans of going to college and has a specific program in mind that will lead him to his dream job.
No Longer Feeling Failure
“I felt like a failure after my marriage ended. I felt like it was my fault,” these were some of the initial words of a female client that had sought counseling at the agency. In the span of less than five months, therapy helped her rediscover her own self-worth and become more confident in her personal and professional decisions. “I just didn’t believe that I was enough, that I could be okay. Now I feel like I’m finally okay with who I am and can accept my mistakes without being too hard on myself.” The client left therapy feeling optimistic about her job and much more confident with her ability to express her thoughts and feelings in an assertive manner with her friends and family. “I’m usually a people pleaser, but now I know that I can speak up for myself and be respectful without blaming myself for other people’s negative reactions.” Another indicator of this client’s success is that she stated feeling, “ready and open to having a healthier relationship in the future.”
