When clinical psychology first got started, there seemed to be a social stigma around those who chose to benefit from therapy. If you visit a therapist multiple times a year, people are likely to be under the impression that you have poor mental health or there's "got to be something wrong with you." As therapy has slowly become more normalized and more people are seeing professional therapists, stereotypes persist.

Let's face it: therapy is incredibly good for you and your mind. In order for everyone to reap the benefits of therapy, we need to erase the stigmas that still exist. Once everyone has accepted therapy as a great personal investment, they will be able to see the benefits it brings to everyone around them as well. Here are three reasons that professional therapy should be more normalized in order to benefit you and everyone else:

1. Taking the pressure off women to be personal therapists.

Some people, when discussing therapy, might say "I don't need a therapist, I can talk to my wife about anything," or "My girlfriend helps me with all of my personal issues and I don't have to pay her." This is an important issue to discuss because women are almost always put into this complicated position. Because women are traditionally the "caretakers" based on outdated ideals, they are also expected to be personal therapists for their spouses and not get paid a penny for it! This is ridiculous when professional resources are out there for anyone and everyone and women already have their own problems to deal with.

It's not a woman's job to listen to your problems and suggest resolutions; there are people who go through years of school to learn how to do this. While there is nothing wrong with communicating your issues to your partner, there is a fine line between simply talking and expecting professional knowledge from them. Taking personal responsibility to see a professional therapist takes the pressure off of women to support their spouse's issues while also supporting their own.

2. Maintaining good mental health is a form of self-care and compassion.

Why do I need therapy if there is nothing wrong with me? This kind of thinking is just the problem. You don't have to be mentally ill to see a professional therapist. Talking to a professional about our day-to-day problems is healthy for anyone and everyone, and should be more normalized so that no one feels weird or ashamed when doing it.

In fact, talking to a professional is a form of self-care that is often not mentioned in the conversation of self-love and other buzzwords. While you're developing your skincare regime or practicing good hygiene, remember it is also important to care for your mind. Self-care discussions always talk about caring for our physical attributes and rarely mention mental attributes. We need to start including therapy as a form of self-care in these kinds of conversations in order to normalize it.

Another great thing about professional therapy is that it doesn't just benefit your mind; it also benefits everyone around you! If you visit a professional therapist often enough, you are likelier to have a positive mindset. Having a positive attitude benefits those around you by spreading positivity and increasing the likelihood of improving their mindsets as well. As you can see, therapy only comes with benefits and can only help to improve your situation and others'.

3. Spending money on your mind is a good investment.

A lot of people don't see a professional therapist because they are concerned with the cost. While it can be pretty pricey, the cost of therapy is definitely worth it.

When it comes to seeking professional help, it's all about investing in your mind. Setting aside a part of your income each week to invest in therapy is a smart decision for all of the reasons discussed above and more. When you invest in professional therapy, you invest in yourself and your mind's ability to grow. It's as simple as that.

Now that you've heard about the benefit of therapy, you know the importance of normalizing it. There are lots of important steps to getting there completely, but just starting a conversation with friends and family about therapy is a great first step. Even discussing the benefits with strangers can help to start a bigger conversation about professional therapy as a resource for everyone.

And it should be a resource for everyone. No one should be ashamed of seeking professional help and investing in their own mind.