Half a dozen reasons

your Doctor may refer you to a therapist.

1. To help you manage your pain.

                According to Harvard Medical School, people with chronic pain reported a significant decrease in their experience of pain after regular use of techniques that elicit the body’s relaxation response.  A properly trained therapist can teach you these techniques and help you practice them.  (The relaxation response is 5x more efficacious than simple sleep.)

2. You’ve had a change in your health status.

                A change in your health affects all aspects of your life, not just your physical functioning.  Talking to a knowledgeable therapist can help you determine how the change could influence your life and plan how to minimize any negative consequences in your life.

3. Because you’ve been talking to your doctor about feelings of anxiety, fatigue, stress, or sadness.

                Your doctor might have suggested medications to help with these concerns, but he/she is also aware of the mind-body connection; how you feel physically affects your mood and visa versa.  A good therapist can help you explore how these two parts of yourself are interacting and how to tap their potential as a whole for healing.

4. You’ve been experiencing the effects of a stressful life.

                From ulcers and cardiac disease to TMJ and teeth grinding to frequent physical ailments such as colds and flu, stress drains and harms our bodies.  A skilled therapist can help you identify sources of stress and develop a plan to cope with and lessen the stress you experience.