Therapy Myths
There are a few misconceptions about counselling and psychotherapy that might be holding you back from reaching out.
I’d like to address them here, so they don’t prevent you from asking for the support you need.
#1 – Therapy is only for people in extreme distress
It is not true. Therapy is most effective when symptoms are mild, not when your
mental health has really deteriorated.
It is much more challenging to work through things when you are in a crisis than
when you simply feel like something is not right. If you feel stuck and feel like you
need support, reach out before things get worse.
#2 – Therapy is just a very expensive chit – chat
Accredited therapists are highly trained practitioners. To achieve accreditation, therapists must complete a minimum of 450 hours of supervised practice, as well as extensive theoretical and practical training.
Therapists must also undergo therapy themselves and receive regular supervision of their work to ensure it is safe and up to date. As your therapist, I will use this extensive knowledge and skills to help you feel better. In therapy, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. I will draw on my training and experience to find the best way to support you
#3 – Therapy is for people who have nobody to talk to.
Friends, family and partners can offer invaluable support during difficult times. However, many times it is hard to get exactly what you need from them. They might have their own agenda, biases and preconceptions or they just don’t fully understand what the problem is and just trying to “cheer you up”.
As a therapist, I can offer a space free from bias and opinions about how you should be or what you should say. As a mental health professional, I can understand what you are going through and what you need to feel better.
#4 – A therapist will tell you what to do and make your problems go away.
The role of the therapist is more of a facilitator. The work must be done by you, with my support and occasional guidance. The goal of therapy is to help you to be independent and in control of your life.
Telling you what to do would not only not help you, but it could make things worse as the therapist would be taking control of your life. It would be unethical and against your best interests.
#5 – I am not strong enough, I’m sure I’ll fail.
Having intense or even uncontrollable emotions is not a matter of being weak or strong. Imagine a dam that is collapsing. What would be the best strategy?
To keep patching it up, so it remains “strong”, or to let it break and do something positive with the water on the other side? Draining our emotions might result in a temporary flood that is difficult to cope with, but it is a necessary step in building your strength and resilience.
#6 – Other people are going through far worse than I am, so it’s a waste of therapist’s time to deal with me.
Everyone is unique and has a different background, a different story. Some might seem much more painful than others. But everybody is different, and it is not possible to compare one’s pain with another.
Even if it were, that doesn’t negate the fact that you might also need support. Not having “suffered enough” doesn’t mean you don’t deserve help. If you are struggling, reach out. You matter.
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