What I've Learned About Life...From Being a Therapist in Leavenworth and Overland Park, KS

Not many people really slow down to stop and think about why they do what they do. We do so many things every single day without ever thinking about “the why” behind it. Even seemingly meaningless tasks can have a deeper meaning if we only stopped to think. 

So many people just like you and I are walking around wounded and hurt without even realizing it. Oftentimes, we push our pain back in order to put on that brave face, to convince others that we are okay, that we are strong, that we don’t need help. But we do. 

Mental health is just as important to take care of as our physical health. It is overlooked far too often and seen as insignificant. This is the complete opposite of the truth. We have to take care of ourselves, and our mind is an important part of that. As a therapist in Leavenworth and Overland Park, KS I have learned a lot from clients about life.

What Being a Therapist in Leavenworth and Overland Park, KS Has Taught Me

While I have learned several lessons through my work as a therapist in Kansas, these are a few of the most impactful lessons I have learned:

1. We Are All Flawed: People are flawed, and we make futile attempts to hide it. No matter how much effort we put into looking perfect, and hiding our flaws, sometimes they poke through. Maybe if we didn’t try so hard to hide them, we’d all be better off. 

2. Good Intentions, but Sometimes Bad Impacts: Sometimes we have good intentions, but the impact that we have is hurtful. Is there such a thing as caring too much? It can seem that way when we want the best for someone, but the measures we take to show them go awry. We can push them away, making it seem like we did something wrong.

3. Showing Soft Emotion Means I’m Weak: Showing emotion is a sign of strength, not weakness. Emotions are seen as something to be suppressed and pushed deep down. “Nobody wants to see that'' is what we tell ourselves as we bury our fears, our sadness, our loneliness. 

   This is not true, because the more we push our emotions away, the more they build up and suffocate us. Expressing our emotions and showing what we feel takes bravery, showing that it makes you strong.

4. Change IS Hard: Any type of change has massive effects on us. Whether it is a big move, a new partner, a different career, or even a new pet, there are aspects of change that make it hard to deal with. The sooner we try to adapt and find people to help us do it, the sooner our changes become our new normal.

5. We are Influenced Without Even Knowing It: We are influenced by things that we don’t even think about. Social media can give us impossible standards for ourselves. Advertisements make us want products that we’ve never even heard of. Our family of origin makes us who we are today. We all develop a baseline story and see it as normal. 

6. Therapists Have Therapists! All of these lessons go to show that we all need a therapist sometimes, even the therapists themselves! We are advocates of mental health and human, therefore, our therapists in Leavenworth and Overland Park, KS know that sometimes they need support too. And that is OK!

How You Can Apply Lessons to Your Own Life

Listen, these might seem like hard lessons to learn. But you can do it!

1. Have the courage to embrace your flaws. To be flawed is to be human, and we are all human. Cut yourself some slack and let yourself be imperfect. 

2. Learn how to repair. We are going to hurt the ones we love. However, it is up to us to take responsibility for that hurt and learn how to repair it.

3. Get comfortable with your emotions. Emotions are completely natural and we need them to survive. They are what tell us to move when something hurts us. They help us remain safe. They cue us up in times of joy. They connect us with all of the important people in our lives. All of these come from our emotions. So use them.

4. Embrace change. To not change is to be stagnant. We must be flexible in order to better ourselves and live the best life that we can. 

5. Be curious. We need to be open to the stories we have created and work to change the ones that are hurtful to ourselves and others. Use your story as motivation to make yourself better and surround yourself with those that you want in that story. 

6. Get a therapist in Leavenworth, KS, and Overland Park, KS already! Checking in regularly with a therapist can help to catch problems before they deeply impact us in a negative way. Going to therapy is never something to be ashamed of. It shows that you can admit when you need help and is a step in the right direction.

Start Talking with a Therapist in Overland Park, KS, and Leavenworth, KS At JS Therapy Group!

This is your time. This is YOUR TIME to make some positive changes in your life. The therapists at JS Therapy Group can help you get back on track or just make some tune-ups. Our therapists have offices in Overland Park, KS, and Leavenworth, KS. To start counseling in Overland Park, KS, and Leavenworth, KS, follow these simple steps:

1. Contact JS Therapy Group and speak to our awesome Client Care Coordinator

2. Meet with one of our caring therapists

3. Start feeling connected, loved, and appreciated

Other Therapy Services Offered at JS Therapy Group

We offer several service in our Leavenworth and Overland Park counseling centers. Mental health services JS Therapy Group provides include addictions counseling, play therapy, trauma therapy and PTSD treatment for children, trauma and PTSD treatment, family therapy, couple and marriage counseling, counseling for teens, addictions counseling, family therapy, depression counseling, classes, workshops and groups and premarital counseling. We also offer professional consultations and supervision opportunities. If you can’t make it to see one of our therapists for in-person counseling, consider online therapy in Kansas to meet your mental health needs. Contact us to get started or click on one of the links to learn more.