Written by a Human Being – Heather Smith of Step by Step Training – NOT AI

Seeking professional help for yourself is essential. Many of us spend so much time supporting the people we care about that we forget to take care of ourselves. As a result we end up exhausted, drained and emotionally worn out. The First Step to refilling your tank is: Seeking Professional Help for Yourself.

Whether you are occasionally, or constantly giving energy, guidance, empathy, and emotional support to others, it’s easy to become drained without even noticing. Our Mental Fuel Tank get’s emptied by these conversations regardless of the fact that we care about our family, our friends, or our colleagues and want to help them.

By seeking professional help for yourself can help to prevent Mental and emotional exhaustion from creeping in slowly. One day you’re helpful and patient, and the next you’re feeling cranky, exhausted and overwhelmed.

This is why seeking help for your own mental health isn’t selfish—it’s essential. There are many tools and people out there to ensure you keep yourself well and seeking professional help for yourself can take many forms.

Professional Help makes you Stronger

Firstly, the ‘Traditional’ image of Therapy is seen as laying on a couch while someone takes notes and repeats ‘Aha’ a lot. This is actually NOT what happens. Firstly, a lot of therapy takes place online. Secondly, therapy is a chance for you to share what is on your mind in a safe and confidential space. The ‘Ideal’ therapist is one that you feel comfortable with and can trust. It may take you time to find the right ‘fit’ for you, but it will be worth it.

Courage to admit to yourself and say, “I think I might need help.” Reaching out can then take even more courage, but the results will be worth it. I have had the good fortune of finding a good psychologist the first time. I only needed a handful of sessions to feel better about things, and to process through the situation I was facing.

You can use not only psychologists and counsellors, but online resources such as This Way Up or My Compass. As Taxpayer funded organisations, both of these are free to those accessing them.

It is important to realise that you don’t need to be “falling apart” to seek therapy. Professional therapists and online resources can both help you to develop resilience skills and new ways to grow. It’s a means not only repair your mental wellbeing but also maintain it. Don’t be Afraid in: Seeking Professional Help for Yourself.

Good therapist vs Bad Therapist

Secondly, there are many qualified counsellors and psychologists out there. Many of them are excellent, and it can be a bit of a minefield finding the right fit for you.

The wrong therapist, regardless of expertise is one you do not feel comfortable with, you do not feel empowered by and you feel like you are not improving in your wellbeing and confidence to face lifes challenges.

When you find the right therapist? Everything feels easier and the result is you will feel safe, positive and encouraged by each session.

Seeking Professional Help – WARNING:

A good therapist won’t just take your money week after week without helping you grow.
Their goal is to empower you to live your best life, and therefore they should not create dependence.

Here are some green flags to look for:

1. Ensure you feel listened to and heard.

Real listening—not checking the clock, not giving placebo responses they really make you feel heard and understood.

2. Be involved in your own treatment.

Therapy should feel collaborative. You’re partners working toward your wellbeing, not passive and detached. Expect homework and activities outside of the time spent with them.

3. Clarify that understand the reason for activities and questioning.

You should never feel confused about why you’re being asked a question or doing an activity. A great therapist ensures you understand what you are doing and why.

4. Make sure you feel emotionally safe.

Safety means feeling respected and supported. It doesn’t mean you’ll never feel uncomfortable—growth can feel awkward.

5. Therapy should empower and improve you.

You should not feel ‘stuck’ and expected to return repeatedly without making progress. A healthy therapist helps you build independence, confidence, and resilience.

6. Laughter and a comfortable atmosphere is essential.

Therapy should feel human, not fully intense and the therapist should be able to at least share a laugh, use movies, books and life stories to help you to feel entirely at ease.

Don’t forget to use Self-Help Books and Audio Books.

Another idea is that many self-help books can really support people. While they are not meant to replace professional help, they can absolutely support it. Books give you language, ideas, and inspiration you can explore more long-term and at your own pace. Books is just one form of: Seeking Professional Help for Yourself.

Here are some powerful authors worth exploring:

I have read all of these and can personally recommend them as ‘readable’ rather than highly academic and therefore often difficult to understand.

Brené Brown

Her books—like Daring Greatly or The Gifts of Imperfection—are excellent for understanding vulnerability, courage, and emotional resilience.

Daniel Goleman

Emotional Intelligence explains why emotional awareness is often more important than sheer intelligence when it comes to relationships and wellbeing.

Jocko Willink

With titles like Extreme Ownership, which he co-wrote with Leif Babin offers a more structured, discipline-based approach to building strength and responsibility.

Stephen Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a timeless guide for personal development, productivity, and living with more purpose. It is an excellent resource to read again and again.

Books combined with professional therapy can magnify the benefits you get in life as you continue to build your mental strength, wellbeing and resilience. If you are short of time put a hard-copy book in the toilet, and read a couple of pages a day. Or, use audio books as you drive. The best wellbeing you can have is worth the effort.

Still not convinced?

Low Stress ideas for Talking to a Therapist

If the idea of therapy feels intimidating, here’s a few tips and ways to think about it:

1. The first session is just a conversation.

You’re not committing to anything long-term. It’s simply a chance to see if you connect with the therapist.

2. Show up exactly as you are.

Nervous, overwhelmed, unsure what to say? Be Honest. It’s quote common. Therapists are trained for that.

3. Ask questions.

About their approach, their training, how they structure sessions, or what you can expect. Understanding can help to build comfort.

4. You don’t need to have ANYTHING figured out.

You don’t need a clear goal or a perfect idea of what you want to learn. Therapy is a journey and is all about discovering those things.

Seeking Professional Help for Yourself is ESSENTIAL

In conclusion, life is complicated, hard, unfair, challenge, surprising, beautiful, and sometimes fabulous. You NEED a space where you can sort out your thoughts. A safe place to understand your emotions, and build skills that help you to become more resilient, and to tackle those conversations with others that have drained you.

Most importantly, Seeking professional help for yourself is an act of maturity, self-respect, and courage. It will help you to be a better friend, family member and colleague.

A good therapist helps you:

• understand your emotional patterns and ways to improve them
• build coping skills for the challenges life throws at you
• strengthen relationships by helping you to understand triggers and managing emotions
• navigate life with more steadiness and help you to work towards successful life goals
• ultimately to help you to depend on yourself more as the captain of your own life.

Taking care of your mind by seeking professional help for yourself is one of the best things you can do to improve your own wellbeing as well as provide you with skills to support others more effectively.

Ultimately, when you keep yourself well you are better equipped to live your best life and maintain healthy relationships with those around you.

If you are interested in further training in helping others with mental health issues, or ways to keep your workforce mentally well, contact us today at Step by Step Training! More shorts and reels on our YouTube Channel.