5 Therapy Myths Debunked
/“I don’t need therapy, I’m not broken.”
Sound familiar? As counselors, we hear this often, along with many other myths that may discourage individuals from taking that courageous first step toward starting their therapeutic journey.
The truth is, therapy is a strong tool for anyone seeking support, self-growth, rehabilitation, as well as to deepen their understanding of self. This can occur in various stages of one’s life, as the counselor’s goal is to meet the client where they are at.
Myth #1: “I’m Weak If I Go to Therapy”
There often is a stigma that seeking help and support regardless of the situation labels an individual as weak, broken, and/or vulnerable. Many cultures and social norms also view therapy negatively, which can hinder an individual in taking the bold first leap into beginning therapy.
Truth: Starting the therapeutic process takes a great amount of courage, self-awareness, and resiliency to notice when you could benefit from support. It helps one gain a new perspective while self-reflecting, with someone else to talk to and guide the process, providing insights and reinforcement to meaningful change. Therapy is a positive step to offer empowerment to individuals in a way to better their health. It is not a sign of failure.
Myth #2: “Therapy Is Only for People with Serious Mental Illness”
There are many individuals in society that have the perception therapy is only for those who have diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Indeed, therapy is beneficial to those experiencing these concerns, however, these are not restrictions to engage therapy.
Truth: The therapeutic journey is for anyone that has the desire to improve their overall emotional and mental well-being, strengthen relationships, self-growth, navigate life transitions, alter unhelpful thinking patterns, manage stress, enhance communication skills, along with many other beneficial factors. An individual doesn’t need to be in a crisis to be in therapy.
Myth #3: “I Should Be Able to Fix Things Myself.”
Many individuals have the misperception that if they cannot fix their own problems, they are a failure. This can often lead to feelings of hopelessness, confusion, and/or decreased self-esteem and confidence.
Truth: You are not the problem. We are only human. It often takes a different perspective as a way of guidance and counselors are trained professionals who help to offer unbiased insights within a supportive and welcoming environment. The role of a counselor helps provide direction to better cope and manage stressors, along with empowering you to identify your own solutions.
Myth #4: “My Therapist Will Judge or Won’t Understand Me”
This myth has the tendency to stem from fear, embarrassment, or shame. However, this can also be influenced by past experiences of not feeling heard, validated, or misunderstood. Individuals are often hesitant to start therapy due to thinking they will be viewed in a negative light associated with the thoughts, actions, or feelings they’ve had.
Truth: Counselors are trained professionals who actively listen with empathy, curiosity, and compassion. Not judgement. A counselor’s role is to not fix, label, or tell you what you should do. Our role is to offer the therapeutic setting as a collaborative process by working along your side to help better understand you and your experiences, as well as to progress towards the goals you create. It is very important to find a therapist that is the best fit for you, as there are many that come from diverse backgrounds. Although it may take time, it is possible and worth it.
Myth 5: “I’ll be in Therapy Forever”
Some have the idea that if you start therapy, you’ll be locked in long-term. This can often lead to hesitation about starting therapy, thinking it isn’t worth the time and effort, and/or that it isn’t feasible.
Truth: Therapy is a voluntary process, meaning it can be short-term or long-term. Many individuals attend for just a few months to have support and guidance while working through a specific issue or transitional period within their life. Some intentionally engage in therapy for years depending on different life stages, ongoing self-growth, or the need to process deeper, persistent experiences. The focus and duration of the therapeutic journey varies and is unique to everyone, it is not a copy and paste process. The pace and duration will be up to you and your counselor to determine based on your personal goals.
Redefining What Therapy Is
Therapy is an atmosphere for healing, growth, and awareness. Whether the reason for seeking therapy is due to facing a crisis or just wanting to better understand who you are. The idea of therapy is not about fixing what is “broken,” but to nurture the vessel that is already existent.
Therapy is not about only treating mental illness- it’s an investment in your emotional resilience, mental health, relationships, daily life, along with your own personal growth.
Therapy is:
· A space to explore who you are without judgment
· A tool to develop healthier habits and coping skills
· A place to recover, reflect, and grow — at your own pace.
· Support and guidance through stress, transitions, grief, trauma, or just overall life
· For everyone — not just when something’s “wrong,” but when you’re ready to make things better.
You don’t need to be “broken” to ask for help. You just have to be human.
Our therapists at The Counseling Collective would be honored to work with you! The mental health therapists at our office offer counseling for a variety of issues including trauma using EMDR, depression, anxiety, grief, and couples counseling. We work with kids, teens, adults, and couples. We also offer online counseling services which can be great for people with busy schedules or for people who live in parts of Pennsylvania with limited counseling options. You can check out our website to see the full list of counseling services that we offer. Or, Schedule An Appointment here.