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The Truth About People Who Go to Therapy: 11 Misconceptions and Myths | Talkspace
Forced To See a Therapist
This misconception comes from assuming people don’t go to therapy by choice, when in fact most go of their own will. They want help and are willing to deal with the stigma of seeking treatment for mental health problems.
Those who need to be forced to go to therapy often need psychiatric treatment before being committed to therapy.
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Key Ideas
Women And Therapy
Mostly women go to therapy. This is true as women more often receive therapy because there is less stigma preventing them from doing so. Conversely, societal pressures make men ambivalent to therapy.
Therapy Goers And Medication
Most mental health professionals treat mental illness by combining psychotherapy and medication or by therapy alone. Many clients choose the latter when they don’t need medication or think of it as burdensome.
Willing To Listen
Untrained people can’t offer the same mental health benefits as a mental health professional could.
Your mental health is too big a responsibility to place on the people in your life. They will be there for you during hard times, but shouldn’t be a substitute for therapy.
Don't Be Lazy
When a client sits back and lets the therapist do everything, they don’t make much progress. People who can think for themselves make the most out of therapy.
Therapy After A Crisis
Nothing horrible has to happen for people to want a happier life. Clients seek therapy for guidance navigating a new phase in life, dealing with general malaise, refuting long-held negative beliefs and more.
Therapy is also an effective treatment for preventing future crises, such as divorces, or even to help maintain and enhance one’s already positive mental state.
Handling Things On Our Own
Trauma, mental illness and stress are scientifically proven to be real and can have a debilitating effect as a physical injury. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, and therapy is no exception.
Besides, therapy provides a tool for self-improvement even for those who do not have mental health issues.
Therapy Seen As Expensive
For those who want affordable therapy, there are online therapy websites to facilitate it. They can also take advantage of resources the government and schools offer or find a therapist who uses a sliding scale for payments.
Therapy And The Mentally Ill
Therapy is not exclusively for people with diagnosed mental illness. Good therapists listen to us without judgment and teach us how to solve problems in a healthy way and to live a happier life. And that’s useful for everyone.
Forced To See a Therapist
This misconception comes from assuming people don’t go to therapy by choice, when in fact most go of their own will. They want help and are willing to deal with the stigma of seeking treatment for mental health problems.
Those who need to be forced to go to therapy often need psychiatric treatment before being committed to therapy.
‘Crazy’ People'
Most people who see therapists are not dangerous, violent or even eccentric. Studies indicate that mentally ill people are actually more likely to be victims of violence.
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Roles of psychologists and psychiatrists
- Psychologists, in general, provide assessment and therapy in a group format or individually. The purpose is to improve a persons' well-being.
- Clinical p...
Try a few therapists
You will need to feel safe and secure and establish a connection with your therapist. It is reasonable to try out a few until you find the right one.
The right therapist will encourage and support you in making uncomfortable changes.
Word of mouth
Ask your community for mental health specialists recommendations. Consider asking your GP, family, friends or local community.
Once you have a few names, look up their qualifications and read up about them.
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'Crazy People' And Therapy
Many believe the only "crazy people need therapy" and end up waiting before they seek help, which only exacerbates the problem.
In reality, people go to therapy for various reasons ...
Therapy And Reassurance
Most therapists are encouraging and emphatic, and some therapy models emphasize this warm support more than others. But not all therapy works this way, therapists also have to challenge and educate clients.
Therapists And Money
There are many other areas of expertise that require less effort and are more financially rewarding than therapy. Therapists who thrive in this work deeply respect humanity and aren’t driven by money.
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Therapists Are Not Paid Friends
A therapist should be someone you trust will keep your secrets, and hopefully someone whose company you enjoy, as finding a good fit is an important part of successful therapy.
Therapy Couch
There is a common misconception that going to therapy, you will lie down on a couch, staring at the ceiling, and talk while an emotionless professional sits near you and writes on a notepad.
Most therapists do have couches in their offices. But many people in therapy choose to sit and talk to their therapist, who often responds.
Duration Of Therapy
Some methods of psychotherapy and complex issues may take some time, but many interventions are shorter. Also, many choose to stay in therapy after the issue that brought them has been addressed to better understand themselves and their thoughts.
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The Way Therapy Works
This seems eve...
Therapy Techniques
- Some therapists are just there to listen and provide a backdrop.
- Even the silence that they exhibit seems to kindle the patients into divulging more of their most uncomfortable truths.
- Others keep the sequence of assignments and tests lined up, never pausing.
- Therapists play varied roles to get some valuable information out of the patient and make him better.
Therapy That Works
No particular form of therapy is proven to be better or more effective than others.
Different people prefer or respond to different forms of therapy.
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Seeking Therapy
Finding the right therapist for one's psychological problems can be a daunting task. It takes time and effort but can be done if one is equipped with the right information.
It is common ...
Kinds of Therapy
Most therapists are equipped with multiple approaches and can tailor them based on one's specific needs. The two common types of therapy are:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy(CBT): Identifies and monitors and corrects unhealthy behavioral patterns. It is effective in treating general anxiety.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Goes deep into one's past, family, and relationships. It is considered effective in treating certain disorders and depression.
Finding The Right Therapist
- In looking for the right therapist, it is best to locate one through a referral, if your friends are comfortable providing one.
- You can also search the internet, looking for licensed practitioners in your area.
- Take a look at your insurance plans database and see if you find a good one that can also be covered by insurance.
- A good therapist may not have a big online footprint. Shortlist about five therapists and get in touch with them personally.
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Use Aromatherapy
Whether they’re in oil form, incense, or a candle, scents like lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood can be very soothing.
Aromatherapy is thought to help activate certain receptors in your ...
Go For a Walk Or Do Yoga
Walking away from an anxiety inducing situation can be very effective. Taking some time to focus on your body and not your mind may help relieve your anxiety.
Write Down Your Thoughts
Writing down what’s making you anxious gets it out of your head and can make it less daunting.
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Depression as Chronic Sadness
Depression and mental illness are long associated with being sad and mentally ill people and those fighting mental disorders are judged by the misleading emotional states like happiness, which have...
Using Therapy
Many people believe therapy is something you need when you are not satisfied, happy or content with life.
Mental illnesses go far beyond being happy or sad, and many people that don't think they need therapy may, in fact, be in acute need of it.
Happy Pills
- It’s a myth that mental health and happiness mean the same thing.
- Happiness is just another emotional state, like sadness.
- Depression is portrayed as not being happy, which is untrue.
- The pill-popping generations label anti-depressant pills as Happy Pills, which is also misleading.
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"Needing" therapy
By framing therapy in terms of what we need rather than what we could benefit from, many people experience too much shame or embarrassment to try it.
Not everybody needs therapy. But ...
How therapy helps
- Understanding how the way we tend to think about things affects our moods and emotions
- Clarifying our values and strategizing about the most effective path toward them
- Learning to communicate directly and assertively in relationships or the workplace
- Building self-confidence in social situations
- Acquiring more effective parenting skills and techniques
- Working through complicated grief or loss
Therapy and growth
Ultimately, therapy is about growth and creating opportunities for positive change.
And in addition to improving traditional mental health struggles, therapy can also be a powerful and efficient way to make progress on personal goals or aspirations.
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Difficulties in reaching out
There are a lot of reasons talking about our problems can be difficult:
- We may be educated to internalize feelings, rather than expressing them.
- The emotions we're d...
Talking about our problems
It can take a few forms:
- Venting to a trusted friend: just let your feelings out, with no real plan for a solution.
- Discussing a conflict with a partner: being able to be open about your feelings with your partner can make your communication healthier.
- Talk therapy with a licensed therapist: a good one can help you hash out your emotions.
- Being open about your struggles: sharing what daily life is like can help you and others with the same struggles realize that you’re not alone.
Benefits of talking out problems
Research shows that putting your feelings into words can diminish the response of the amygdala (the part of the brain that handles your fight or flight response, among other things) when you encounter things that are upsetting.
This in time makes you react with less stress when faced with the things that bother you.
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Mental Health In Today’s World
In an increasingly complex and competitive globalized environment, the growth curve of mental illness is a serious concern, with statistics showing that 800,000 people commit suicide per year, and ...
Mental Health At The Workplace
Mental disorders that are unchecked and untreated in employees(and their family) often lead to reduced productivity, increase in workplace accidents, with a majority of the employees suffering from decreased concentration at work.
Treating mental health is not a big investment and employers can be the facilitators to reverse the grim scenario.
Employer Actions To Treat Mental Illness
- Becoming aware of the workplace environment and the policies that might adversely impact the employees.
- Learn from leaders and engage in employee wellbeing.
- Follow other companies who have taken necessary steps to curb mental health issues at the workplace.
- Understand the unique needs and opportunities of your workforce to develop tailored policies.
- Take practical steps like initiating training programs and facilitating the various workplace wellbeing strategies.
- Many workers have a stigma attached to seeking help for mental health problems and need to be educated about the process while making it frictionless.
- Remember that mental health is linked to everything, including physical and economic health.