For many people, therapy is a tool filed away as "in case of emergency." It's like a fire extinguisher that's stored behind glass, something you might not even consider accessing unless life feels like it's undeniably up in flames. Maybe that's after a bad breakup, amid grieving a difficult loss, or even after a toxic job leaves you burnt out to a crisp.

However, much like any other wellness practice, therapy can actually be a beautiful tool for maintaining mental health, and even preventing major issues down the road. "When you go to therapy in response to a crisis, the work focuses mostly on stabilization and safety," says Laura Sgro [1], LCSW, a licensed anxiety and trauma therapist based in Los Angeles. "But when you start therapy beforehand, you're able to build skills when you have real capacity to practice them." In fact, she believes that some of the most important work happens when you're in a mostly good place.

Here, Sgro shares the value of therapy as self-care, and how to take the first steps towards building it into your wellness routine.

The Benefits of Therapy as a Wellness Practice

In the same way we exercise to support our physical health, prioritize eating nourishing foods to support longevity, and even slather on skincare to promote skin health, therapy is a great way to practice self-care for our emotional and mental well-being. Here are a few of the ways that incorporating therapy into a wellness routine can be highly beneficial for our overall health:

• You'll establish emotional equilibrium. When you come into therapy during a time of high stress or crisis, you're already dysregulated and may not even remember how you felt in more stable times. However, opting to start therapy before that tipping point allows you to "learn what your baseline is, so you can recognize when things feel off," says Sgro.
• It creates a safe space. "There are infinite stressors in our current lives and having a space that's just for you to express and process your feelings is so important," says Sgro. A therapist is a neutral sounding board for all your thoughts and feelings — even the ones you may not feel comfortable sharing with other people in your life. You might be amazed at just how much lighter you feel post-therapy session, even when you were feeling "totally fine."
• You have the opportunity to practice vital coping skills. As mentioned, a key benefit of preventative therapy is it allows you to "practice coping skills so they're there when you need them, and explore things that you don't normally have the capacity to," says Sgro. With that in mind, it's worth noting that just like you wouldn't stop working out the moment your body feels stronger, "it's important to keep practicing the skills you learn in therapy, even when things are going well," says Sgro. "It's like muscle memory — the more you practice them, the more natural they'll feel, which is crucial in difficult moments."

How to Make Therapy Part of Your Self-Care Routine

Of course, if you've never been to therapy before, taking the first step can certainly feel daunting — and that's nothing to be ashamed of. "It's normal to feel intimidated by something new, especially something as vulnerable as therapy," says Sgro. Just remember, you don't have to talk about anything you're not ready for, and it's totally fine to ease in slowly as you get acquainted with this mental health practice. "Part of your therapist's job is to take things at your pace and help create a space where you feel safe opening up."

If you're having trouble taking the plunge, Sgro recommends asking your prospective therapist if they offer a consultation call before booking an initial appointment. "It's a great opportunity to learn more about that therapist's style and ask any questions you might have."

There's also no denying that the cost can be a major barrier to entry when it comes to therapy. That's where online therapy services like BetterHelp (which also make finding and speaking to a therapist more accessible than ever) may help ease the financial stress of counseling, too. According to the company, you don't have to keep putting therapy off. Insurance options and more ways to pay may be available on BetterHelp [2].* Plus, Popsugar readers can get 20% off their first month [3] with BetterHelp.**

The bottom line: Going to therapy doesn't have to mean something is wrong. "I've had clients worry that they haven't experienced anything 'serious enough' for therapy, but there's no minimum criteria for wanting to work on yourself," says Sgro. "Sometimes, it just means you want to know yourself better or explore different parts of yourself."

*Insurance availability and coverage may vary by state, plan, provider network, and therapist availability.
**Offer valid for new BetterHelp users only. Offer cannot be combined with insurance.