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Sonni Williams is a Senior Clinical Operations Manager at BetterHelp, today’s largest online therapy service. BetterHelp’s network of over 30,000 licensed therapists has helped millions of people worldwide take ownership of their mental health and work towards their personal goals by providing professional, affordable, and personalized therapy in a convenient online format. Sonni is passionate about erasing the stigma around therapy and the ever-changing mental health landscape for BIPOC. Before joining the BetterHelp team, she worked in private practice as a therapist and has worked with and supported youth as a licensed K-12 school counselor. 

For World Mental Health Day, I couldn’t wait to talk to Sonni about the importance of self-knowledge, common barriers to pursuing mental health solutions, and practical tips we can put into practice, starting today. 

Q: In my research on habits and habit formation, I’ve found that the most important step is the first step. I’ve also come to recognize the tremendous importance of the time of beginning. When it comes to therapy, do you also find this to be true? Are there any examples of this showing up in your work that you can share?

I wholeheartedly agree that the first step is crucial when it comes to starting your therapeutic journey.  It also takes a lot of courage to take that step and I always celebrate when people take that leap to better themselves and their mental health.  In my work, I specialize in narrative and bibliotherapy which helps clients to rewrite their stories and in a lot of ways rewrite their lives. Habits and habit formation are key pieces to how I work. 

Q: What have you found to be the most common barriers to people prioritizing mental health solutions? What are 3-5 practical tips you can share that people can use starting today?

The most common barriers to people prioritizing their mental health that I have seen in my career has been readiness, affordability, and dealing with stigmas surrounding mental health.  

One practical tip that people can start using today to prioritize their mental health is to start small. I always promote the following: 

• Spend time with yourself. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but spend quality time with yourself.  Journal, work on your awareness, rediscover hobbies.

• Spend time outdoors or in nature.  Go for a walk, a bike ride.  If you are near water, like a lake or a beach, spend some time there. 
• Move your body…..with intention.  Find a form of exercise that you actually enjoy and make it a part of your weekly routine.

Q: A key conclusion I’ve drawn in my study of happiness, habits, and human nature is that we can build a happy life only on the foundation of our own nature, our own values, and our own interests. In my own case, I’ve found that the more my life reflects my nature, the happier I become. But it’s surprisingly hard to know ourselves! It’s easy to be distracted by the way we wish we were, or think we ought to be, or what others want us to be, until we lose sight of what is actually true. How do you think about this in the context of your work with BetterHelp?  

I am really lucky to work for a company like BetterHelp that allows me to show up as my full self.  It’s allowed me to do better work, have a better work/life balance, and thoroughly enjoy my work. In my work as a therapist, I strive to get my clients to that level of knowing themselves so that they can truly own their narratives and create life on their terms so that they can tap into building a happy life of their own.  

Q: I often tell people that there’s no one “best” way or “right” way to make our lives happier; we each need to find the way that’s right for us. Does this ring true for you when it comes to pursuing our mental health or approaching therapy?  

100%!  What I love about the mental health field and therapy as a whole is that there are so many different approaches and ways to implement therapy into your life.  If you find that one type of therapy doesn’t work for you, I strongly urge you to try another type and be open to different modalities.  Once you find the right therapy fit for you, it’s life-changing in the best way.  
BetterHelp was founded in 2013 to remove the traditional barriers to therapy and make mental health care more accessible to everyone.  As the unmet need for mental health services continues to grow, BetterHelp is committed to expanding access to therapy globally. 

In honor of World Mental Health Day, BetterHelp is offering readers 25% off of their services. Click here to learn more or get started today.