Consistent Therapy
Why Consistency Matters
Life is full of patterns. Patterns are visually in our environment; our eyes are drawn to them. Patterns are in rhythms; our ears enjoy the predictability of patterns in music. And if we pay close attention, patterns are within us. The study of human behavior is based on the idea that operant conditioning creates patterns where our internal processes and external stimuli are tired to behaviors. They happen in patterns that can be predicted and shaped. If we pay attention to our own patterns, we can eliminate patterns that aren’t working for us. We can ask ourselves, is this moving me closer to or further from my values and goals?
Creating patterns of wellness means paying attention to our routines. Incorporating therapy into your wellness routine can be a significant boost your your self awareness and self-esteem. Not only will understanding your own patterns of behavior help move. you toward your values, you will also likely find peace in making time for yourself to be still and reflective.
Many of us has been led to believe that we should seek help or go to therapy when things are bad. But the research tells us maintaining a level of consistency when things are good is always extremely important. We can learn just as much from our experiences when things are going just right as we can when things are hard. Why? When we sit in a moment to process how we feel when things are going well and the moments that led to these moments of stability, we often can attribute significant pivotal moments or shifts in our thinking, perspectives, and behaviors. It’s these shifts that become apparent to us when we can look at many data points over time. No one moment in time can give us any reliable data. But the magic happens when these data points are strung together to give us a bigger picture.
Building consistency can be tough. For some, it’s tough to go the therapy when things are busy or hard. For others, it’s tough to go to therapy when things are easy going and drama-free. Both can be remedied with making therapy a routine. Choose a day of the week, a time in that day of the week and go for 8 weeks. You’ll know you’ve established an effective routine when you have to miss a session and it causes a feeling of dysregulation or discomfort. Much like exercise or smoking, something out of the routine can cause a physical response in our bodies, leaving us feeling “off” or dysregulated.
Carl Rogers was a known American Psychologist who studied and taught on the process of self-acceptance and self-actualization. As he stated, “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.”
As you move toward consistency in therapy, remember you are on a journey. Accept yourself where you are right now and do yourself the favor or showing up for yourself each week with a trusted guide, there to help notice patterns.