Why Choose Therapy?
Whether this is your first time seeking therapy or you have been in therapy in the past and want to try it out again, I can’t begin to express how happy I am for you to work towards enhancing the quality of your life.
In order to best support you in making the choice to start or restart therapy, I think it’s important that I address any misconceptions about therapy.
Below are a few more myths I want to address:
#1 I don’t need therapy. I can just talk to my friends about my problems.
Talking with your friends and a good support system can undoubtedly be helpful. A good friend can help you feel supported, safe, and validated. However, it is not the same experience as talking to a mental health professional. Of course a professional therapist will also create a safe space but they would also provide you with greater insight into yourself, coping strategies to have under your belt when times are tough, and help you break unhealthy patterns such as unhealthy coping mechanisms or negative thoughts.
#2 Only weak, mentally ill, or “crazy” people go to therapy
This is a huge contributor to mental health stigma. It should not be seen a negative thing to seek therapy. In fact, you are bettering yourself which can not only improve your life but also those around you. It actually takes a lot of strength to reach out for help and a lot of courage to face emotional pain and past wounds as we try to work towards a better future.
Another contributing factor that adds to mental health stigma is oftentimes people are told they “need” therapy which insinuates that there is something wrong with them. Thus, consequently, people are less likely to turn to therapy when they may actually benefit from it. Instead, we should be thinking it as I “want” therapy, because at the end of the day, therapy is [usually] a choice and we choose (or want it) for various important reasons. Sometimes it may even be life-saving.
Additionally, a lot of the symptoms/diagnoses (i.e. anxiety, depression) we have in the present are in actuality related to past experiences, trauma and genetic factors. As you can imagine, our genetic makeup and exposure to trauma are outside of our control. Therefore, it is NOT your fault you are experiencing what you currently are, so please do not feel shame or embarrassment. Do not let the stigma around mental health keep you from achieving the quality of life you deserve to have.
#3 Why waste time in therapy when I can just use medication?
Research shows that it’s the combination of both therapy and medication that is most effective rather than medication alone. If a medical doctor or psychiatrist deems that it can helpful for you to take psychotropic medication, that is a great start towards positive change and symptom relief. In most cases, however, medication alone is not enough. Medication is often compared to a “bandaid” treatment to heal emotional wounds. It treats the pain in the moment, but it’s not what will create lasting change. Medication can help you find the motivation to start therapy or the relief from anxiety to start talking about your issues. However, if you want to find lasting relief from your symptoms, then therapy is an option to consider. Therapy can give you a more “hands-on” approach to treat your symptoms such as digging deeper and overcoming the reasons why we were experiencing the symptoms to begin with.
#4 People are stuck in their ways, there is no way someone can change.
Have you ever wondered why you do some things in a particular way or how you picked up certain behaviors, even the unwanted ones? Many of our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors are a result of learned experiences. So just as you came to learn unhealthy patterns of thinking and behaving, you can learn to unlearn those and replace them with healthier patterns instead. With enough empathy, encouragement, self-awareness and self-reflection, change is not only possible, but it can be permanent and adapted into a healthier future.
Several research studies in the field of neurobiology have even been able to show that brain changes occur with those who have been treated with psychotherapy. The brain structures that show significant change, for example, are the areas responsible for our emotions and thinking.
In conclusion, there is so much to gain from therapy. If it wasn’t for this career choice, I don’t know if or when I would have ever sought therapy for myself. I’m thankful to have been able to find therapy so that I can live a life that is not dictated by societal expectations or a life based on repeating old wounds. I hope this post sheds some light on what your personal gains may be should you “want” therapy for yourself.
Cheers,
Dr. Jessica
