Mental Health Awareness Month: The Power of Therapy for Mental Health Prevention
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reduce stigma, deepen understanding, and reflect on how we care for ourselves and others emotionally. While much of the conversation this month focuses on recognizing signs of mental health challenges, there’s an equally important message that often gets overlooked: therapy doesn’t have to be reactive—it can be preventative.
Most people wait far too long to seek help. One recent study found that Australians wait an average of 12 years before seeking treatment for mental health or substance use disorders, depending on the type of issue and other factors like age or gender (Birrell, Chapman, & Prior, 2025). That’s more than a decade of managing symptoms alone, second-guessing whether it’s “bad enough” to ask for support.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Reach Out
Therapy isn’t only for when you feel emotionally maxed out. In fact, one of the best times to begin therapy is when things feel relatively okay—when life is moving along, but something still feels a little off. Maybe you’re stuck in old patterns, navigating a transition, or carrying invisible stress. Support doesn’t have to be reserved for the most urgent or painful moments. It can be a proactive choice to protect and nurture your mental wellbeing.
Emotional Tunnel Vision: Why Therapy Works Best Before Things Tighten
When emotional stress builds, it can create what psychologists call cognitive narrowing—a shrinking of your mental flexibility and problem-solving capacity. I often describe this as emotional tunnel vision:
Imagine you’re moving through a long train tunnel. Normally, you can see the world in a 180-degree field of view—relationships, priorities, your values, the bigger picture. But when stress becomes pressing, your view narrows. You’re focused only on what’s right in front of you—what needs to be fixed now, what feels overwhelming today. Usually, our thoughts and actions are more emotionally driven when we’re in this emotional tunnel, and logic falls outside our field of view.
It’s harder to integrate new tools or shift perspective in that narrow mindset.
That’s why therapy is often most effective when you’re not deep in that tunnel. When you can still see the wider landscape of your emotional life, you're better equipped to reflect, learn, and grow. You can actually use the skills you’re learning—rather than feeling like you’re scrambling just to stay afloat.
Therapy as Emotional Maintenance and Meaningful Growth
You don’t need to be in emotional distress to benefit from therapy. Many people come to therapy not because something is wrong, but because they want something to be different.
When individuals come to me wanting to proactively work on things, we collaborate to:
Identify emotional and behavioral patterns that tend to repeat so you can interrupt painful cycles before they gain momentum.
Clarify your values and lifestyle goals, and implement sustainable behavioral changes that support the life you want to live.
Gently challenge long-held beliefs about yourself or the world that no longer serve you.
Explore relational dynamics, set boundaries, and improve your capacity for emotional resilience.
This kind of work is gradual and meaningful—it’s where true growth happens, not just symptom relief.
Support Is a Sign of Strength, Not Surrender
There’s a persistent myth that seeking therapy means something is broken or wrong. But reaching out is not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign that you are taking your emotional health seriously. Preventative mental health care is just as legitimate—and important—as preventative medical care.
You don’t have to be in a place of urgency to benefit from support. In fact, therapy is often most effective when it’s seen as a tool for emotional maintenance, not emergency repair.
Why Summer Might Be the Best Time to Begin Therapy
Summer tends to be the season when therapy is least utilized*. People feel more energized, the seasonal depression slump has lifted, and their calendars are filled with outdoor plans, vacations, and family time.
But that’s exactly what makes it the perfect time to begin therapy.
When you're not in a reactive headspace, there’s more room to do deeper, preventative work. You can reflect more intentionally, build new skills at a steady pace, and lay a stronger emotional foundation before fall and winter responsibilities resurface.
So if you’ve been thinking about therapy but weren’t sure if the timing is right—this might be your window.
If you’re ready to start therapy or explore whether it’s the right fit for you, you’re welcome to reach out through our contact page or request a free consultation. Our practice offers telehealth services across Iowa and PSYPACT-participating states.
*Note: While specific data on seasonal therapy utilization rates is limited, it's commonly observed among practitioners that therapy attendance tends to decrease during the summer months, making it an opportune time for new clients to begin their therapeutic journey.
Disclaimer:
The content on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical advice. For personalized care, please consult a licensed therapist or healthcare provider. For more details, please read our full Blog Disclaimer.
References
Birrell, L., Prior, K., Vescovi, J., Sunderland, M., Slade, T., & Chapman, C. (2025). Treatment rates and delays for mental and substance use disorders: results from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 34, e8. doi:10.1017/S2045796025000034
