4 Myths About Starting Therapy
Have you been thinking about seeing a therapist for a while? Is it hard to pick up the phone and make that first call?
You are not alone in this! Many people spend months (or even years!) debating about therapy before they actually do it. It’s normal to have anxiety about trying something new, especially when it means talking about personal things like emotions and life experiences to someone you don’t know. Here are some myths about the process as well as some information about what counseling is really like:
But first, what is therapy anyway?
Therapy is a scientifically proven process to help people manage not only mental health concerns, but also stress and everyday experiences and emotions. A licensed therapist will use many proven techniques to help you manage your thoughts, navigate your feelings and improve behaviors that are keeping you from living the life you want.
Myth # 1: “Therapy didn’t work for me in the past, so it’s not going to now.”
As therapists, we hear this one all the time! Have you ever gone to a medical doctor or dentist that you didn’t really care for, so you tried another one? I know the process is not always easy, but just because you didn’t have the best experience or you didn’t connect with one person, doesn’t mean that will always be the case. A connection with the right therapist can make all the difference in your experience with therapy and meeting the goals that you have set for yourself. So please give it another try!
Myth # 2: “My problems are not “bad” enough to go to counseling”
Some folks are of the impression that things have to be really “bad” in order to warrant counseling services. However, people attend counseling for many, many different reasons, both small and large. A concern doesn’t have to be “bad” to warrant counseling, but if it is bothering you, then that is actually the perfect time to seek counseling. You can get some support and work on the problem before it becomes an even bigger concern!
Myth # 3: “I don’t want to talk to a stranger, they don’t even know me!”
While this is a common concern, we actually hear from many people that the opposite is true for them- many people say that this is one of the best reasons to see a therapist. Many people benefit from hearing an outsider’s perspective on their situation. A therapist is not involved in your day to day, which puts them in a wonderful position to give you a fresh new view on the dynamics of a situation.
Myth # 4: “Once you start, you have to go for the rest of your life.”
Definitely not true! Some people will go to therapy for just a few sessions if that is all they need to reach their goals. At the beginning of the therapeutic relationship, you will set goals with your therapist about what you want to accomplish and the therapist will share some strategies of how to meet those goals. Periodically you and your therapist will take time to assess your progress, possibly identify different goals or decide that your goals have been met. Sometimes people will transition to taking longer breaks between appointments in order to assess how they feel without therapy each week, others just end when they are ready. There’s no right or wrong way here. Therapists love when you meet your goals, just as much as you do, and we want you to succeed!
We hope these myths have helped to answer some common concerns you may have about starting therapy. We know it can be scary to start something new, but in this case, the benefits are well worth it!