Why Everyone Should Go to Therapy

Thinking of making new investments to propel your company’s success? Here is why therapy is one of your best options backed by personal experience and solid numbers.

Did you know that mental health issues cost the global economy about $1 trillion each year? Or that approximately 12 billion working days—or to put it a more extreme way, 50 million years of work—are lost annually due to depression and anxiety?

With these shocking figures in mind, I’ll share my journey with mental health, specifically therapy, and why I prioritized it for myself and then extended the opportunity to my employees at Lupa. Trust me: you will see positive changes that benefit you, your employees, and your company. By the end of this article, I hope to enlighten you on your next investment decision.

Before we get into it, remember that I am not a mental health professional. Everything you read here is based on my own experience. I hope this article inspires you, whether you’re a CEO, a manager, or an employee, to explore mental health resources and consult professionals who can help you navigate the complexities of the workplace.

Why I Brought Therapy to Lupa

Therapy has been the most beneficial thing I’ve ever done for myself—seriously. It has improved my work relationships and overall productivity, helping me achieve as many goals as possible. More importantly, it has given me the tools to manage my ADHD and navigate the anxiety and pressure of running my own startup.

With this firsthand experience, and backed by testimonials from my mentors and the highest-performing people I know—who can’t live without therapy—I made therapy accessible to my team right from the start at Lupa. We partnered with Selia, a specialized platform that offers customized mental health, emotional wellness, and personal and professional development solutions for individuals and companies.

The Transformative Power of Therapy

Two years after launching Lupa and introducing therapy benefits for everyone, I’ve seen remarkable improvements in my team. Those who participate in therapy not only excel in their roles, earning promotions and achieving their goals but also receive significantly higher ratings in our 360 evaluation processes—where employees evaluate each other—compared to those who don’t use the benefit.

The impact is not just measurable in numbers but also on a deeper, personal level. Many people carry hidden mental blocks and bad habits, which therapy helps identify and address. It enables you to confront inner demons, resolve issues, and become a better version of yourself. This way, you can handle stress better, focus more, and sleep well, leading to sustained productivity and self-motivation in the workplace.

One of the most visible effects I’ve observed is how therapy attendees handle conflict and obstacles with a newfound maturity. They also take greater accountability for their actions, shifting from blaming external circumstances to proactively addressing current challenges. Additionally, I’ve noticed fewer sick days among those regularly attending therapy.

The Importance of Mental Flexibility

As a CEO, my primary goal from day one has been to help my employees develop into well-rounded individuals. I aim to build a strong team that is empowered enough to figure things out on their own and overcome challenges with resilience.

But as with many things in life, to become a better person one must endure complexities. And yes, therapy can be tough and uncomfortable at first, but it helps you develop an amazing superpower to deal with the challenges of the workplace: mental flexibility—the ability to shift your course of thought or action according to the changing demands of a situation.

Something I do is give my employees a clear idea of what I expect them to achieve from the beginning, allowing them to take action independently and guiding them along when necessary. Sometimes, this approach can be mentally draining—especially if you expect a simple and repetitive job—but believe me—it’s a great way to train mental flexibility, which will help you deal with many things in life in a much better and more strategic way.

Breaking the Taboo

I’m not shy about sharing my own positive experiences with therapy to demonstrate its benefits to my team. Beyond just talking about it, I use evidence-based research to highlight its many positive impacts on their lives. I try to bring up the topic frequently, encouraging my employees to keep an open mind.

It’s crucial to understand that therapy isn’t only for addressing past traumas—it’s also a practical tool for dealing with day-to-day challenges, such as managing tough conversations with coworkers or navigating difficult projects, much like coaching sessions.

Moreover, I give my employees the freedom to choose from a range of therapists and psychological approaches, thanks to the personalized assessments provided by Selia. Finding a therapist that clicks with you is vital, and if one doesn’t, it’s okay to try another. I personally have six different therapists to get fresh perspectives and prevent feeling stuck. Just remember: a single bad experience shouldn’t discourage you from seeking the help you need.

My Two Biggest Realizations

Therapy has been instrumental for me in digging deeper into understanding my emotions and actions, teaching me two important lessons:

1. I don’t have to change who I am to be successful.

In my first year as an entrepreneur, I faced immense challenges that brought on significant mental stress. Through therapy, I discovered that the root of my distress didn’t come from the job itself—which is what I love doing—but from trying to be someone I thought I needed to be to succeed. I’m naturally easygoing, and realizing that I didn’t need to alter my core self to be successful was a major breakthrough. 

2. I am not responsible for other people’s actions.

Therapy helped me recognize why I avoided setting clear expectations for my team—I feared their potential failure. Without clear goals, I couldn’t identify the origin of failure, which led to mutual frustration—my team didn’t know what to aim for, and I found myself expecting perfection rather than achievable outcomes. Now, I understand that as long as the expectations are reasonable, I’m not solely responsible if someone doesn’t meet their goals.

Therapy has been a journey of profound self-discovery, helping me identify behaviors that weren’t serving me well. I’m still a work in progress, dealing with moments of frustration, but the frequency and intensity have lessened considerably thanks to the insights and tools I’ve gained.

Putting it all together 

My main advice to anyone considering therapy for themselves or their teams is simple: just try it. The data backs its effectiveness, and the cost is minimal compared to the potential benefits. See it as a valuable investment, not just an expense. Your employees will appreciate it. But also be ready to grow yourself. Working with people who are in therapy will mean that you, too, need to evolve.

If you want to know more about giving this amazing benefit to your team, explore Selia, a mental health platform that offers tailored therapy solutions, meeting your unique needs and enhancing your company’s well-being.