For many people, therapy is still a taboo topic.
Though you don’t have to have a diagnosis to go to therapy, the stigma is still felt when the topic is brought up. It’s a lot easier for us to talk about a physical than it is a weekly therapy session.
And even though a larger number of people are seeking treatment for their mental health, some may still have a hard time talking about it for fear of being thought of in a negative light.
To help clear a bit of this fog, I want to share my experience with therapy and mental health professionals.
starting a conversation
Even though I don’t mind talking about going to therapy, I’ve found that some people are unsure of how they should respond. They may feel like they don’t know if that is a positive or negative thing, and they don’t want to offend me by picking one way or the other.
I work to improve this in two ways: one, by showing people I am comfortable with it and, two, talking about my experience in a more casual manner, without making the other person feel like they have to comment on it.
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What therapy isn’t
One likely reason for the stigma around therapy is that there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding it.
The first thing therapy is not is for “crazy” people. There isn’t one type of person that goes, or should go, to therapy. First, we need to move away from using the word crazy. In this case particularly, “crazy” aims to define such a broad and abstract group of people, that it’s essentially pointless. Who is “crazy?” How can we even attempt to define that?
The answer is we can’t. And attaching that word to therapy perpetuates our negative reactions towards it.
It’s not scary
It’s true – a lot of new experiences are scary at first. But that’s noy because they’re inherently scary – it’s becayse you’re moving outside your comfort zone.
Therapy should be a safe space – a place where you can speak your mind without fear of being attacked or judged. It’s where you get to hear constructive comments from someone who isn’t entangled in your life, and therefore has no stake in it.
Therapists can guide you through challenges you have faced and are currently facing, and help you make your most infomred decision – they’re not going to tell you what to do or take sides in conflicts in your life.
It’s not shameful
When you go to therapy, you are sending a message to the challenges you face that you are determined to rise above them.
You are giving yourself the tools you need to grow and prosper. That is strength. Not weakness.
Maybe it won’t happen in a day. Maybe it won’t happen in 2 years. But each time you allow yourself to be vulnerable and work towards improving your wellbeing, that is a sign of strength.
What’s great about therapy
It’s safe.
It’s impossible to solve a problem when you don’t know exactly what it is. And sometimes, the problems we most need to address are things we aren’t comfortable sharing with a friend or relative.
With a therapist, everything is confidential, which means nothing you say will leave the room. Want to talk about someone else? They’ll never know. Something embarassing happened? You won’t be judged.
Therapists are meant to be objective, so you can be honest with them without the judgement or expectations. If you’re unsure about something, they do what they can to talk you through your thoughts or give you strategies to use in real life.
It can help you destress
While the topics discussed at therapy aren’t always fun or positive, I always feel lighter and cleaner when I leave, like that feeling right after you cry.
Even if you don’t come up with any solutions, just getting the thoughts out of your head and having someone respond and validate your feelings can help you release some tension.
It’s flexible
The main focus of any therapy session is you! You don’t have to talk about the same thing every week if you don’t want to. Our lives change day-to-day, so you can talk about anything you want during your time.
If you have a new problem this week or something particular is bothering you, you can talk about it! Ideally, you’ll leave with strategies to approach this situation.
It’s scheduled
Sometimes, the hardest part of taking care of ourselves can be making time to do it! Between school, work, friends, and more, I often feel like taking a break to do something for myself is a waste of time. However, this is so far from true. I know this, and still struggle with it.
But that is what’s great about a session once a week – it’s scheduled and set and so you can’t just skip it. The accountability is great and will keep you from putting it off (or never doing it).
Important notes
- Sometimes your first visits can seem discouraging because you may not get too in-depth. Your therapist needs to learn a bit about you before they can truly help you with what you are looking to address. Keep going.
- After seeing one therapist for a bit, you might realize that maybe you and your therapist don’t mesh well – and that’s okay. Don’t be afraid to change therapists. It may seem inconvenient to start over, but it can be worth it.
- Try going to multiple therapists for a couple of weeks and see which one I like the most. Any therapist will understand if you fit with someone else better. It won’t hurt their feelings, I promise.
Disclaimer: I am not a health professional and this is in no way medical advice. I only aim to share my experience so that others can draw from it in a way that is best for them.
Best,