"I've never found therapy to be a sign of weakness; I've found the opposite to be true. The willingness to have a mirror held up to you requires strength."
–Brooke Shields
#1: Recognize Alternative Perspectives
Going to a neutral professional can offer valuable insight without the emotional charge we (and our loved ones) tend to bring to our experiences and issues.
#2: Maintenance
Therapy works best when you're using it for maintenance. Going to a therapist for continued support instead of crisis management can greatly alleviate the severity and length of said crisis.
#3. FRIENDS + FAMILY ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS
As well-intentioned as loved ones can be, they may not have the capacity or expertise to handle your issues. A licensed professional helps people for a living and can offer substantially more rewarding results.
#4. Compartmentalize
Allocating time to talk things through with a professional can help compartmentalize your stress points and find effective ways to actually reduce the stress.
#5. Cultivate Emotional Growth
Talking through issues with a therapist can help foster psychological growth while reducing the load of emotional baggage.