As a therapist, I have heard a lot of different beliefs that people have about the entering therapeutic process. Some myths are grounded in what I call "old school" therapy styles, some are associated with the unfortunate, still-existent stigma that therapy carries, while others are perpetuated by television and movies. I am going to take a moment in this post to deconstruct some of the most common therapy myths I have been asked about.
Myth #1- Going to therapy means there is something wrong with me or that I'm weak
-This one has stigma written all over it. Our society has come a long way with being more positive about therapy, but there's still work to be done. Going to therapy is not a weakness, and you are not weak if you choose to do so. In my therapeutic perspective, attending therapy actually shows a lot of strength- as you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable and being open about things that are weighing on you or preventing you from doing or being. There is nothing wrong with attending therapy either. Even bigger, there is nothing wrong with having a mental health disorder. I bolded that because so many people have told me that having a mental health disorder, whether it be Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or any of the many others means there is something "wrong" with them. Incorrect. Our brains are all formed differently, and our life experiences then continue shaping our brains in different ways- those differences are not wrong, just different.
Myth #2- Therapists sit expressionless and offer little conversations outside of the occasional "hmm" or nod.
-This is part of the "old school" therapy I mentioned earlier. In the old days, this was a fairly common practice as it was believed by some clinicians that therapists were meant to be stoic, and were to only reflect back what was heard. Therapy has come a long way since then, and now most therapists adopt a more human approach. I am human, and while I am not going to make "judgy" faces in session, my face is fairly expressive. I also do a lot more than say "hmm" and nod (although that probably happens occasionally throughout a session). I also don't tell you the answers, but I work collaboratively with clients to find solutions and will supportively talk with you while you process some of the difficult things in life.
Myth #3- If you come in to process trauma, I will force you to talk about it every session
-A lot of times, when clients come in with the intention to process trauma, they're likely not be ready to do so right off the bat. I believe that in order to process trauma in an effective way, the client needs to feel comfortable with me as the person who will support them in doing so, but also will have some tools and coping skills to turn to between sessions if trauma responses arise. Once we begin processing the trauma, we can also divert if needed. Life has a lot of stressors that can come out of nowhere, and if that is what is primarily weighing on you, then it might be most beneficial to take a break from trauma processing and focus on the current concerns.
These are only a few of the many myths I have heard. Please feel free to contact me if you have heard one that you would like to discuss or have debunked!
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