Adulting can be stressful and overwhelming, especially in uncertain and unconventional times. The reality is that life has its way of throwing twists and turns at everyone. The great news is that there are plenty of resources out there for adults when times or relationships get difficult. To learn more about three services that could help when things get hard, read on.
1. Family Therapy
For many people, stressful times can put a strain on relationships. Whether it’s that you and your spouse are having difficulty communicating, your adolescent is struggling with substance abuse, or you think your family may need a tune-up, there are some fantastic family therapy programs out there that can help you and your family members resolve issues, improve communication, and have better relationships.
The way that family therapy works is that a licensed therapist with systems theory training can help to untangle the group dynamics at play in your unique situation. A family therapist can use their clinical experience in group relationships to help you and the people you love work through issues and strengthen bonds. Examples might be using treatment plans to help you and your family members through a loss, a change of lifestyle, or in defining healthy habits and roles in the family.
Different from a typical therapist who does clinical work on an individual basis with only one person, a family therapist is trained to juggle multiple perspectives and to spot relationship patterns. That is, a family therapist will be able to offer you tools and resources to help your family well into the future.
2. Legal Assistance
As unfortunate as it may be, many adults run into a legal situation at least one time in their lives. If you’re like most people, there will come a time when you need the help of an experienced attorney to guide you through a legal situation. Maybe you live in Alabama and need a personal injury lawyer in Birmingham after a serious accident at work. An experienced attorney will be able to help you the same way family counseling might help those relationship skills. Otherwise put, an attorney can use their professional skills to advocate for you and be sure that your best interest is always represented in legal matters.
3. Community Agencies
In the same way it’s a good idea to know an experienced lawyer great with critical thinking, you’ll want to become familiar with the social services and community services agencies in your area. Even if you won’t need the help of a case manager specializing in social work over the course of your adulthood, many community agencies can offer help to diverse populations in ways you might not have considered before. Whether you could use support with resources, help to get out of an abusive relationship, or need the social stimulation of others in a new town or occupation, a community center could be a great way to stay connected and help you to feel supported.
At the end of the day, even when life gets hard, you’ll be in a better position to handle stress if you reach out to a clinician, MFT, therapist, experienced attorney, or community agency, depending on your need. In asking for help from professionals, you’ll be one step closer to good mental health as you juggle whatever life throws your way.
For peace of mind, it’s a good idea to have an ongoing relationship with a counselor, therapist, and human service agency in your area should the need arise to access them. In the meantime, best of luck adulting in these uncertain times. Remember to engage in acts of self-care on a regular basis. You’ll thank yourself for it later.