5 Reasons Why You Should Try Therapy During Uni
This article is a sponsored post in partnership with BetterHelp
Because therapy is for everyone.
Being a uni student can be exhausting. From moving to a new place, making friends, balancing your social life and your studies to budgeting, having to cook, clean and do everyone on your own— it can be a lot. The truth is, that everyone can benefit from therapy, whether you’re struggling with your mental health or just need someone to talk to about something that’s on your mind.
The important thing to remember is that no one has to struggle or suffer on their own. Therapy is for everyone, but actually finding a therapist and making it work for you around your uni commitments can be tricky. Especially when you’re a student and therapy isn’t always cheap.
Luckily, we’ve partnered with BetterHelp to give students 50% off the first month of therapy so you can try it out and see if it will work for you. With BetterHelp you can fill out an intro questionnaire to decide your goals for therapy and you’ll be partnered with a therapist who can best accommodate you. You can also do your therapy straight from the comfort of your room, so you can easily fit it into your busy student schedule and know you’re somewhere you feel safe and comfortable when meeting with your therapist. You can choose between phone, video or live chat sessions so if you find the thought of being face-to-face with a stranger too overwhelming, you can still get support in a way that works for you.
If you’re thinking about starting therapy this year, or have thought about it but aren’t 100% if it’s for you or not we’ve put together all the reasons why therapy can benefit your life and why all students should consider it.
1. It can help you to adjust to your new life at uni
Going to university is a huge transition and it’s completely normal to feel homesick, lonely or even unsettled in your new life. Therapy is a great way to discuss your feelings and your therapist can help you to adapt to your new life and give you practical advice and goals to work towards to help you feel more settled in.
Sometimes, it can help to just talk to someone new who isn’t a family member or a friend and knowing that you have someone who is there to listen to you and allow you space to vent and share your concerns without judgment can make a huge difference.
If you feel worried about starting university or your university journey, therapy can help you to feel less alone during your studies and make it way less daunting and scary.
2. It’s a safe space to discuss anything on your mind
There are a lot of reasons why you might be considering therapy, but you also don’t need a specific reason to try it out. Many people choose to go to therapy to help with their mental health or to deal with specific life events, but therapists can help with pretty much anything— from relationships with a partner or family members to your relationship with yourself, your faith, your sexuality, past experiences or just discussing how you’re navigating your life.
It’s important to remember that your time with your therapist should be a safe space to discuss literally anything that’s on your mind, which is why it’s important to make sure your therapist is best suited to your needs. Some people might go into therapy with no specific goals whereas others may have something they actively want to work on, so you want to make sure that you choose a therapist who has the right experience and background to make sure you’re getting everything you need out of your therapy sessions.
3. You can take control of your mental health
Let’s face it, even though it’s 2024 mental health is not given the attention it deserves and unfortunately, so many people struggle to get the right treatment or have to face long waiting lists.
Everyone is different, and mental health can affect people in different ways— even two people struggling with depression might have completely different experiences and coping mechanisms. If you are struggling with your mental health, once you’ve found a therapist with the right background and experience you can start working towards your goals. It might be that you just want to vent and let out your feelings each week and have someone who will listen, or you might want to work towards overcoming certain fears or achieving certain goals.
Therapy is different for everyone and it can be hard to get started, but seeking help is the first step in taking control of your mental health and supporting yourself fully during uni.
4. It can teach you practical coping strategies and tools
While therapy does involve a lot of talking, sometimes talking isn’t enough to make real change in your life. If you’re struggling with a specific issue, therapy can teach you to cope in a healthy and practical way when your therapist isn’t around.
While there’s no rule on how long you can stay in therapy, many people see it as a short-term solution and it’s often up to you to take the tools and coping strategies you learn and apply them to your life.
This might sound scary but your therapist will teach you how you can deal with any difficult situations and find a practical way to overcome your fears. These strategies will be personalised to you and you’ll often be asked to go away and practice them in between sessions to help you feel confident and comfortable taking control of your mental health when you’re on your own, without needing your therapist’s help.
5. It can improve your academic performance
When you’re struggling with your mental health or have a specific topic on your mind that’s causing stress, it can be difficult to concentrate on anything else. Unfortunately, many students find that their studies often suffer due to poor mental health, especially if they feel like they’re dealing with everything entirely on their own. Not to mention bad mental health can make it difficult to even get out of bed never mind write a dissertation.
While therapy can help you to take control of your mental health, it can also really benefit your academic studies too as you learn more coping mechanisms and grow your confidence in yourself. If you’re opening up and working through your struggles with a therapist, it can often lead to better concentration and focus in other areas of your life.
Therapy can be life-changing for so many people and there’s no harm in trying it out. Of course, it can be scary to try something new and to form a connection with a complete stranger, never mind opening up to them but once you start you’ll probably feel a huge weight off your shoulders. Don’t forget to use our BetterHelp student discount to get access to affordable and accessible therapy and try your first month of therapy for half price.
This article is a sponsored post in partnership with BetterHelp