Kickstart the New Year: How Therapy Can Help You Thrive
The new year is here, bringing with it fresh starts, new goals, and endless possibilities. Whether you're navigating life as an individual, part of a couple, or any other type of relationship, this is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and plan for the future. How can therapy play a helpful role in helping you turn those intentions into action and meaningful change? Here’s how!
Reflect on the Past Year
Every ‘ending’ offers a time to take stock of where you've been. What have you overcome and what milestones can you celebrate? Therapy provides the perfect place to unpack the highs and lows of the past year in a way that leaves you motivated and clear on how to move into the next season of your life. Through reflection, you can:
Recognize habits, behaviors, or thought processes that no longer serve you.
Acknowledge personal and relational growth that’s worth carrying forward.
Understand how past experiences shape your present and inform your future (this one is soooo helpful!).
Setting Intentions for the Year Ahead
The phrase ‘new year’ often implies it is time to set resolutions. As we all know, sticking to them can be tough. Transforming vague aspirations into actionable goals is critical for us to achieve what we set out for. As an individual, this might mean exploring areas like self-care, career growth, or emotional resilience. For couples and relationships, it could involve strengthening communication, deepening intimacy, or (finally) resolving those recurring conflicts that cause such disconnection.
In therapy, you’ll:
Break down what you truly want to achieve into manageable steps.
Create strategies to stay motivated and on track.
Tackle obstacles, like self-doubt or fear, that might hinder progress.
Cultivating Emotional Wellness
The foundation of a fulfilling life is emotional well-being. Talking to someone skilled in this area can help you:
Learn techniques to handle life’s inevitable pressures.
Understand your emotions and triggers better.
Build healthier connections with loved ones.
For couples, therapy can be especially impactful in fostering emotional intimacy and improving problem-solving dynamics, ensuring you’re both aligned and supportive of each other’s growth.
Embracing Change
How often do we hear ‘I don’t like change’ from friends? We all know that change can be daunting, even when it’s ‘good’ change. Feeling equipped with resiliency and adaptability will help you embrace new opportunities and handle challenges with confidence. Whether you’re starting a new job, moving to a new city, or simply trying to break free from old habits, having a professional guide can make the journey smoother.
When should you start?
The start of the year is an ideal time to invest in yourself through therapy because everyone is talking about ‘fresh starts’ in so many ways. It aligns with the collective energy of those around you. By starting early in the year, you can make small changes that can turn into big results over the course of the year!
How to Begin
If you’ve never tried therapy before, the first step can feel intimidating — but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to get started:
Schedule a Consultation with our Client Engagement Specialist Michel. She will walk you through the whole process, offer information about our therapists, discuss logistics like scheduling and fees and help you decide if we are a good fit for you!
Meet your therapist and have realistic expectations. Growth takes time and sometimes it takes meeting your therapist a few times before the connection is formed.
Give your therapist feedback on your experience so they know what feels helpful and what doesn’t. YOU can play a role in how well your therapist works for you!
For those already in therapy, the new year is a great time to revisit goals and recalibrate your focus with your therapist.
The IRTC therapists are here to support you and help you have the best year yet!