Starting Therapy After 40 - Humantold

Starting Therapy After 40

Brianna Halasa, MHC-LP July 21, 2023

You deserve a space to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged – at any age.

Starting therapy at any stage of life can be an intimidating endeavor that demands considerable courage. You share the innermost details of your life, some of which may have never escaped your lips, to a virtual stranger – and you’re paying them to listen. How bizarre! Furthermore, there's a widespread notion that with the passage of time, one becomes wiser. Shouldn't this accumulated wisdom allow for a smoother navigation of the world? Absolutely not, my friend. 

Reasons to go to therapy after 40

You may be reading this blog post because you're over 40 (clearly not looking a day over 25) and coming to the realization that the way you’ve been walking through life just isn’t working anymore. 

Maybe something traumatic has happened, leaving you with a strong desire to nestle into the fetal position under the cozy covers of your bed for eternity. 

You could have suffered a breach of trust from a partner, family member, or friend, causing you to rethink your relationships. 

You might be single and want to open yourself up to love and dip your toes into the dating world but hesitate because it feels hard and scary. 

Your kids might be growing up, and you are having trouble grappling with their increasing independence when you vividly remember their unassuming eyes staring up at you as they babbled happily in your arms. 

There could have been the death of a loved one, the ending of a relationship, or a stage of your life that you are grieving.

Your work could be all-consuming, leading to burnout and missed opportunities in other areas of your life. 

Maladaptive coping mechanisms could be catching up to you, leading to unsustainable negative consequences. 

There is no shortage of reasons why life might feel downright difficult. 

A safe space

You never need to experience this alone. 

Therapy is an incredibly unique process because it provides you with a dedicated space once a week that is entirely yours. You have the freedom to occupy as much or as little of that space as you desire. Unlike in healthy friendships, therapy operates without reciprocity. You don't offload your problems only to hear about your therapist's in return. The initial dynamic of being strangers with your therapist is intentional. They serve as an objective observer of your life, equipped with the time, skills, and training to offer their insights, all while having no personal expectations of you.

Over time, trust and rapport are established, creating a sense of safety within the space. It may even be the only safe space you have ever experienced in your life. The therapist creates an environment that welcomes uncomfortable emotions, which are often stigmatized in society. How frequently have you heard someone plead, "Don't cry!" when confronted with tears? Through empathetic listening and effective communication, the therapist validates your experiences, identifies patterns, gently challenges your perspectives, encourages new ways of thinking, and introduces healthy coping strategies.

You deserve a space to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged – at any age. You also deserve dedicated time to start working towards your goals. 

We’re here when you’re ready to start. 

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