“Go see a therapists, the get paid to listen to you!”
That phrase gets thrown around so much but it isn’t true. People have undermined the power of therapy for a long time; the misconceptions surrounding therapy prevent people from getting help. You won’t understand the benefits of therapy until you give it a chance.
Here are some common misconceptions people have about seeing a therapist:
1. Therapy is like paying someone to listen to you
It is true, therapists do a lot of listening but that’s because letting you speak is a major part of the treatment. You can say anything and everything you want to therapists and they will listen to you without being judgmental. They are trained to be objective. They’ll listen to every word you say, take notes, analyze your behaviors and then give you objective feedback.
In psychodynamic therapy, the clients are the ones that lead the session; they decide what they want to speak about. Psychodynamic therapists guide their patient’s train of thought in a way that promotes self-reflection and supports realization.
2. Only “crazy” people go to therapy
People are raised to be self-sufficient and independent but we’re still social animals. Sometimes we need a little bit of help in order for us to be self-aware individuals that share healthy relationships with the people around them – that’s where therapy comes in.
Seeking the help of a therapist doesn’t make you weak; it simply means that you actively want to take steps to improve your emotional wellbeing and have healthy relationships.
3. Therapy never ends
People are under this impression that therapy is a never-ending process. The duration of therapy solely depends on a client’s progress. Therapists are trained to develop target plans for clients, these plans usually last 3-4 months during which the client will undergo different phases of treatment.
Based on the kind of therapy a client is undergoing, they may be given homework to do in their own time. If for whatever reason a client is unable to do their homework, therapy will last longer.
4. Therapists will put the blame on you
This couldn’t be further from the truth. While therapists are trained to take an objective approach and to be brutally honest with their clients, they definitely do not shame them.
The purpose of therapy is to get clients to a happy place emotionally and while that does involve self-reflection, it doesn’t require blaming and shaming clients.
Therapists are supposed to show compassion and have faith their client’s abilities to be better – even when the client doesn’t believe it themselves.
5. Meditation is just as good
Many people assume that therapy and meditation are interchangeable. Meditation can be a part of therapy but it isn’t a substitute. It does restore some of the chemical imbalance in the body and brain causes by stress and depression but it doesn’t give you the tools to grow as a person.
If you feel that you’ve been holding in feelings and thoughts that are impacting your behavior negatively or you are struggling to deal with some of the challenges life has thrown your way, consider seeing a therapist.
David Myers is a psychotherapist that provides psychotherapy, psychodynamic therapy and relationship counseling in Birmingham Al. If you live in Birmingham or nearby communities are seeking the services of an experienced therapist, call (205) 251-8808 to make an appointment.