5 myths about therapy

Mental health refers to one’s emotional, social and psychological wellbeing. With numerous celebrities coming out with mental health struggles the importance and helpfulness of therapy has been showcased in a new light; however, there still remains strong stigma around mental health, which makes people reluctant to seek out therapy even if they recognise that they may need help.

Below are few myths about therapy that may have led us to feel reluctant to seek help:

• My problems are not serious enough for therapy

This is one of the most common myths about mental health and therapy- that day to day challenges faced are not serious enough, and that you should be dealing with it on your own because there are people who are worse off. We all see tragic stories of so many people around the world on the daily news, and thus daily anxiety and problems seem pale in comparison.

But in fact, therapy is not just for serious mental issues, therapy can be helpful in dealing with the curveballs life throw your way. You do not need to have a traumatic past to go for therapy. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to work through the issues, no matter how small or big the problems.

• Those who seek help are mentally ill and weak

Completely untrue. When compared to the first myth, this is the other side of the coin- where some people may refuse therapy because of the stigma of being weak or mentally ill, attached to it. The truth is that many clients (designation for a person in therapy is generally client rather than patient) go through issues that most of us struggle with on the daily- problems related to our work life, relationships, self-concept, life transitions and more. Since these issues are faced by most of us, it is a clear indication that they are not ill nor weak, but strong.

• The therapist will force me to talk about things I don’t want to talk about

It’s a common myth given that not many of us like opening up to a complete stranger. Of course, this is even more so if the person has a traumatic past. Hence, people tend to avoid therapy because it will lead to them bringing up painful, repressed memories.

However, rest assured, a therapist does not force you to reminisce about uncomfortable situations. That being said, painful topics may come up during the course of therapy, but in no way, you will be forced to speak about these issues- especially when you are just starting therapy. One of the core beliefs of therapy is building a trusting relationship with clients, and thus it takes quite a few sessions for that foundation to be placed.

• Therapy is expensive

Influence from Western cultures and common misbeliefs about healthcare have led to the misconception that therapy is expensive in India. In India, the range of fee varies from therapist to therapist; however, there exist some practitioners who charge a fee as low as 350 per hour. Moreover, there exist some centres that provide an online or phone consultation, completely free of charge.

For more information about the same, you can visit https://www.therapizeindia.com/

• The therapist sits behind a desk while you lie on a couch

Once again, completely untrue. As said before, building trust is one of the most important core beliefs in a therapeutic relationship; and trust cannot be built if the therapist and client are away from each other. The correct arrangement distance and space between the therapist and client is of vital importance as physical separation could also signify psychological separation resulting in intimidation, thus leading the client being unable to reveal information relevant to treatment. The ideal setting is two comfortable chairs or sofas in a living room space.

Stigma and myths about therapy still persist, but as the vitality of psychotherapy gains new limelight, once can hope that the biases attached will soon deter and people become aware about the aid that mental healthcare provides. If, by chance, you are reluctant to seek therapy due to any of the aforementioned myths, we hope that you do receive the help that you rightfully deserve!

References

Robinson, B. E. (2020). 10 Common Myths about Therapy. Psychology Today, Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-right-mindset/202005/10-common-myths-about-therapy