Far too often, people have misconceptions about what therapy is all about. Sometimes, these myths actually prevent people from getting what they need in counseling and prolongs their suffering.
- Myth: People who see a counselor are ‘mentally ill.’
Truth: This is one of the biggest misconceptions about therapy. Most people who seek counseling are not mentally ill. They may be facing various life challenges and need support to overcome them. Seeking help from a mental health professional does not make one mentally ill. Just like consulting a heart doctor does not mean that one has heart disease. - Myth: You will be lying down and unable to see your therapist.
Truth: This is not true for most therapy sessions. During therapy, you will be sitting in a comfortable chair facing your therapist. It is psychoanalysis that typically uses the couch. However, some psychoanalytic practices still use the couch, but they are rare and expensive. - Myth: You will have to relive all of your past trauma in order to work through it.
Truth: While you may want to talk about your past experiences, there is no requirement to relive past traumas. If it seems like recounting a story is re-traumatizing you, the therapist will likely redirect the conversation to focus on what you can learn to move forward. - Myth: If you do couples or family counseling, the therapist will take sides.
Truth: Couples and family therapy is not about assigning blame or taking sides. Instead, it is about finding more effective ways of communication to manage and/or resolve disagreements. If someone is doing something hurtful, the therapist will intervene and explore their motives and attempt to discover what they are trying to communicate through hurtful behavior or words. - Myth: Your counselor will try to keep you in counseling to continue receiving payment.
Truth: A good counselor wants you to graduate from therapy as soon as possible, once you are ready. Counseling is a tool that can be used as needed, and the goal is to help you build new tools and develop the confidence to handle life’s challenges on your own. Many people decide that they like having a regular touchstone just to process their lives. This is just fine as long as they don’t feel like they “must” have therapy to be happy and successful. - Myth: Counselors just tell you what to do.
Truth: A counselor’s role is to guide you in finding what works best for you. Simply telling you what to do would not help you develop the confidence and skills to navigate life’s challenges. A good counselor will help you recognize what is happening in your life and adapt to changing circumstances.
If you have any questions about therapy or counseling, feel free to reach out and ask. A mental health professional can help you decide what type of support you need, and if they are not the right fit, they can help you find someone who is.
Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s has worked in the helping profession since he started college in 1990. After completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, Austin in 1994, he attended the highly-regarded University of Minnesota to earn his Master’s degree in 1997. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is recognized as a Board Approved Supervisor by the State of Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Jonathan has completed Level 2 of the Gottman Method of Couples Counseling, and in 1998 received training from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management & Debriefing. To learn more about Jonathan’s practice, click here: Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s.