From speaking to reading and writing, we communicate and express ourselves everyday.
The nuanced connection between speech therapy and mental health comes from understanding language and cognition through emotional resilience. In strengthening or modifying your speech and voice skills, speech therapy can aid your overall mental wellness.
Let’s take a look at five ways speech therapy can connect and improve mental health.
1. Speech Therapy Builds Confidence and Self-Esteem
A common reason people begin speech therapy is because they feel self-conscious about their current speech and language capacities. Speech therapy can help build confidence and self-esteem with professional guidance customized to their desired areas of improvement.
This can especially benefit transgender or non-binary individuals. Gender affirming voice therapy can help align speech with gender expression to promote feelings of validity and confidence around others and within themselves.
2. Speech Therapy Fosters a Supportive Environment
Speech therapy can assure that you’re not on your journey alone. A licensed speech language pathologist ensures an inclusive, zero judgment space that supports you as a person, as well as your individualized goals.
Remember your speech therapist is there to help. If you ever have any questions or need additional guidance, they will always listen and work with you for solutions and support.
3. Speech Therapy Helps Identify and Set Goals
If you’re feeling lost or stuck mentally, setting goals is an effective way to motivate change and productivity. It can also help get you into the mindset of accomplishment for self-growth.
Speech therapy will help you identify and set realistic, attainable goals based on your needs. You can discuss your goals as early as on the consultation call. Coming into speech therapy with goals in mind can help facilitate this process.
4. Speech Therapy May Reduce Anxiety
For those with speech disorders, speaking may be associated with anxiety. Speech therapy will both help you work on speech improvement, as well as address coping mechanisms for what to do in high-anxiety moments.
Some speech disorders are also linked to anxiety. For instance, symptoms of aphasia may be more present in high-anxiety scenarios. The anxiety may increase difficulty speaking, leading to distress. A speech therapist will work with you to help reduce anxiety associated with your speech disorder.
5. Speech Therapy Develops Better Daily Habits
Speech therapy can promote better daily habits that contribute to overall well being. Ultimately, enhancing speaking and listening skills will result in better comprehension and understanding. This can improve daily communication, decision making, and maintaining relationships.
It’s also easy to incorporate speech therapy exercises into your daily routine, which helps with keeping both skills and mind sharp, plus helps incorporate a practice schedule.
Book a Consultation with Blue Ridge Speech and Voice
At Blue Ridge Speech and Voice, our certified speech language pathologists offer innovative, one-on-one speech therapy in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Our speech therapy programs are tailored to suit your needs to ensure we support you as you work towards becoming the best version of you.
We are now accepting new clients! Call (828)-222-3824 for a free consultation.
For additional mental health resources, see this list from ASHA here.
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