Misconceptions About Therapy (Part I)
We’re approaching 2022 and even though the stigma around therapy has been reducing there still seems to be misconceptions that surround it. Some people believe therapy has to be twice a week and will go on forever and ever. Then there are those who think therapy will solve all of their problems in 4-5 sessions. Some people even picture therapy as laying on a couch in a dimly lit room talking about their dreams while a therapist writes everything down. My personal favorite is when I hear, “Therapy doesn’t work, it’s just sitting there talking, Why would I pay someone when I can talk to my friends?'“. Well, don’t worry… I’m here to answer those questions and clear up some of the common misconceptions about counseling.
Mental Health challenges affect millions of people around the world. In any given year, 1 in 5 people will personally experience a mental health issue, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. Unfortunately, statistics like these have been steadily increasing since 2020, and the misconceptions and myths around counseling and talk therapy often discourage people from seeking help and contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
The truth is that counseling has the ability to help almost anyone with mental health concerns, social issues, and personal development. But another truth is that every person is very unique – they will respond to and experience counseling differently and a method that works for one person is not necessarily going to work for someone else. If you have tried counseling before and didn’t find it helpful we encourage you to try again, with a different counselor and/or different method.
Myth #1: I don’t need to pay for counseling…I can just talk to my friends
I can understand how some people might see therapy in that way, but being willing to open up to your friends or family isn’t really a replacement for therapy; even though it can feel therapeutic sometimes. Venting to your friends is different from counseling because it allows you to dedicate an hour a week to focus on yourself and talk to someone who is trained, shows no judgment, and can provide an unbiased perspective. Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe that talking to friends and family about what’s going on in your life is very important because everyone needs social connection and support in life, but it can be even more beneficial when used alongside therapy. Counselors can help you put a vocabulary around your inner world and understand what is going on (or what you’re feeling) a little better. Just being able to speak it to someone who is trained, unbiased, and nonjudgemental; is therapeutic. A counselor’s main goal is to help you with the latest techniques, education, and acceptance. To me, that’s one of the beautiful things about therapy. It’s a place where you can go and trust that everything you say is confidential and that you will be accepted for who you are and what’s going on in your life. That acceptance and understanding will hopefully provide some direction toward well-being and living a happier and healthier life.
When things aren’t going quite right and we want advice, we turn to our family and friends – people that know us and care about us. Having social connections is extremely important for maintaining mental wellness but our loved ones normally don’t have the skills or the objectivity needed. I’m not recommending that you turn away from loved ones or that their advice can’t be helpful, but counselors are an excellent additional resource to guide you through difficult times. An unbiased, impartial trained professional can give insight into the situations and feelings that you’re having that you would not be able to get from people that are close to you. Professional counselors’ training and experience can help beyond the well-intentioned advice of your loved ones.