Common Misconceptions About Therapy
Although the importance of mental health and therapy has (thankfully) become more recognized in recent years, stigma and misconceptions about counseling still exist. These misguided beliefs might come from sensational movies and television, books, or outdated messages about mental health passed along in families. In any case, it’s past time these 5 common misconceptions about therapy were put to rest.
Therapy is only for crazy people.
First of all, let’s go ahead and delete the word “crazy” from our collective vocabulary when talking about people affected by mental illness! People are not defined by their symptoms, no matter how debilitating they are, and labels like “crazy” further stigmatize this population. Therapy is for everyone, and no symptom is too big or too small. Therapy can be useful for life transitions, career counseling, self-esteem, seasonal depression, and much more, not just serious conditions. Suffering is not a competition: just because other people have “bigger problems” does not mean that your problems don’t matter. Don’t be afraid to reach out for therapy even if your worries seem minor.
2. Once you start therapy, you’ll never get out.
This misconception comes from the olden days of Freudian psychoanalysis, a therapeutic style which often involves years of work, digging into the past to help understand the present. This style of therapy has fallen out of popularity largely because of how long it takes to be effective, if at all. While some conditions may require lifelong maintenance appointments, very few people find they need therapy for life. It’s much more common for people to go to therapy for a few months or a year. In fact, newer therapies such as Solutions-Focused Therapy can bring relief in as few as 6-8 sessions! Remember that the therapeutic relationship is a two way street - if you feel that you don’t need therapy anymore, you’re always free to bring it up with your counselor.
3. A good therapist can fix all your problems.
While a good therapist can lead you down a path of healing and apply the best therapeutic techniques to help your particular situation, even the best therapist in the world cannot fix anyone. Progress in therapy largely depends on the client being open and honest in session, keeping themselves accountable to goals and action steps, and putting time and effort into the process. Therapists don’t have magic solutions for life’s solutions, nor will they be able to transform your personality in a few sessions.
4. Therapy is a guy taking notes behind a desk while you lay on the couch.
This misconception is also inspired by Freud, who believed that setting up the therapeutic space in a way that encouraged his clients to view him as authoritative would help them grow. Freud popularized the couch and the image of the stoic counselor sitting behind a giant desk, and these images continue to appear in popular media. However, we now know that therapy works best when we feel on the same level as our therapist, not when we feel like they have authoritative power over us, and modern therapy offices reflect this. Your counselor will likely sit across from you in a comfortable chair, not behind a desk, and a good therapist will wait to take notes until the end of session.
5. Therapy is prohibitively expensive.
Thankfully, mental health therapy is now covered by most insurance companies. If you’re wondering what kind of coverage you have, call the number on the back of your insurance card. The agents will be able to tell you if therapy is covered, exactly how much your copay and deductible is, and give you a list of local therapists who participate with your insurance. Many therapists and community mental health offices also offer a sliding scale rate for the uninsured or underinsured. Some senior or specialized therapists do not accept insurance and can charge $200+ per session, but this does not at all mean that there aren’t excellent therapists who can help you who accept your insurance.
As you can see, therapy has changed a lot over its history, even if the media and popular opinion have not kept up. There’s nothing weak or shameful about wanting to dedicate time and money to improving yourself and your life; in fact, going to therapy is a sign of self-love and courage to face your issues. Ready to get started? Give AWC a call today to be matched with an experienced therapist who’s right for you.
References
Robinson, B. E. (2020, May 10). 10 common myths about therapy. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-right-mindset/202005/10-common-myths-about-therapy
