Three Common Misconceptions About Therapy
Until recently, people were uncomfortable discussing therapy because of the stigma attached to it by society. As a result, there are still some fairly big misconceptions about it. Here are three of the most common ones:
Misconception: Therapy is just like talking to your friend.
While friends are there to listen and support you, they are not equipped to offer solutions to life’s most complex problems. Therapists, on the other hand, are uniquely qualified to help you by offering more than just good advice.
Therapists have trained to have a deeper understanding of human nature — they can help you recognize your own behavioral patterns and offer tools to make necessary adjustments. They can also help you to gain a fresh perspective on the events of your life and the choices you’ve made.
Lastly, sometimes we don’t always want our friends or family to know what’s going on in our lives. Therapy is completely confidential, and because your therapist’s only vested interest in you is helping overcome life’s controlling problems, it is generally easier to talk openly with them. Only by being totally honest and transparent about your life (and yourself!) can you hope to create lasting change.
Misconception: Therapy is all about blaming your parents.
Many people assume therapy consists of spending 45 minutes each week blaming their parents for all their problems. Therapy isn’t about playing the blame game. However, therapists do have to look at a client’s history to get a clear picture of their experiences and patterns.
While many people new to therapy may not want to spend any time “wallowing in the past,” they must understand that the first phase of therapy is to gather information. A therapist must ask some questions about their new client’s life history in order to understand him or her truly. Past experiences do have a way of shaping our personalities, and while your therapist is not interested in having you lay blame on anyone, you will need to provide a brief psychosocial history in order for the solution-focused therapy to be successful.
Misconception: Therapy will help you feel better immediately.
Many people make the mistake of quitting therapy when they don’t feel better after one or two sessions. The truth is, it will take one or two sessions just to tell your story and develop a sense of trust. Therapy shouldn’t be thought of as a “quick fix” but as a process that is unique to each individual. It is important to understand that the process won’t always feel good, though it will be completely worthwhile in the end.
Conclusion: Therapy can be a helpful next step.
Therapy doesn’t have to be intimidating, and at Rise Counseling, we try to make it as comfortable as possible while being as honest as possible about what it entails for your benefit. If you or a loved one is interested in exploring treatment, please contact us.
