The Top 6 Myths About Therapy on Long Island
Breaking the Chains: Debunking the Top Myths About Therapy with a Specialized Therapist on Long Island
Everyone on Long Island has heard of therapy, yet there are still so many misunderstandings surrounding what therapy actually is and how it can help. We need to break down these misunderstandings and myths since they often stop people from getting the help they need through therapy.
Let’s begin debunking the most common myths surrounding therapy and figure out what the truth actually is!
Top 6 Myths About Therapy on Long Island
Myth #1: Therapy is a Sign of Weakness
Truth: Not only is this not true, I would argue that recognizing that you need help and then seeking that help is a sign of strength. It takes strength and courage to decide to seek help and to reach out to therapists. Going through therapy isn’t easy and, in fact, it can be difficult at times. Working through your struggles takes hard work, willingness and strength. This myth is simply not true.
Myth #2: Therapy Takes Forever to Show Results
Truth: Depending on what you’re struggling with, the therapy process may take some time for you to fully heal. However, you can still see results early on in the therapy process. Results don’t just mean the problem is completely gone and you feel perfect - results can be small and those small results add up to big changes. I see results in my clients very quickly into therapy where they are able to challenge old thinking patterns, have new tools to deal with struggles and are able to think differently about certain situations. Therapy is a process that builds upon all of these smaller results so that we can see those bigger, more noticeable successes later on.
If you are in therapy and not seeing any results, it may be a sign that something isn’t working in the process which could mean that either you may not be challenging yourself with the work or the therapist may not be qualified to help with your specific struggles. It is important to try to find a therapist that is a good fit and is qualified and experienced in working with whatever it is that you’re struggling with and need help with.
Myth #3: Therapists are Judging You
Truth: Entering therapy can feel so vulnerable and the last thing you want to feel is that your therapist is secretly judging you. As therapists, we realize that this is hard stuff and that you are being so courageous to be this vulnerable with another person. I respect this courage and your willingness to be vulnerable and I make sure that therapy is always a judgment-free zone. I also value honest communication with my clients and encourage my clients to share with me if they ever feel they are being judged in any way because we can work through that together. People who often feel that they are being judged typically are projecting their own judgments of themselves, and therefore believe others are judging them in the same way. I do not judge, and in fact, I admire the strength and willingness of my clients to do the work in therapy and go through the difficult things. When in therapy with me, I do everything I can to foster a safe, supportive, trusting and non-judgmental environment.
Myth #4: Only “Crazy” People Need Therapy
Truth: This sounds like an OLD belief that is leftover from a society from decades ago. Mental health has been stigmatized for quite some time and it’s going to take a while longer to fully get away from those old societal beliefs. Therapy is a tool that I would suggest could benefit everyone! It can’t hurt to have an unbiased person who knows you, and who cares about your well-being, help you through life’s struggles. People seek out therapy for many reasons including needing help navigating a difficult transition in life or life’s stressors to dealing with eating disorders or trauma or other mental health disorders. We wouldn’t judge people for choosing to go for a bike-ride to cope with life, so why would we judge someone for choosing therapy as a tool to help them?
Myth #5: Therapists enable their Clients
Truth: I hear this and I do believe that this happens sometimes. We live in a sensitive world these days and some therapists may fall into the trap of helping their client to avoid taking accountability in their lives or not challenging their clients enough - neither of which is helpful. My approach is one of empowerment, autonomy and accountability. Ultimately, your life is in your hands despite the circumstances that you go through. In therapy with me, I want my clients to feel empowered and to believe that they have autonomy over their own lives and have the power to make changes.
Myth #6: Once You Start Therapy, You Can’t Stop
Truth: I believe that this is one of those cautionary tales where it is just one of those things that is said to avoid doing the thing that you don’t want to do, aka therapy. First off, therapy is voluntary (with few exceptions) and you can always stop if you wish, although I would encourage this to be a conversation you have with your therapist. Some clients will decide that they want to continue seeing their therapist in some capacity even after they have resolved their initial goal(s). Some people may view this as a crutch, and it can be, but it is important that you have these conversations with your therapist to make sure that continuing to see each other is only helpful and not hurtful in any way. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing and it can look very different for each individual. It is imperative to have a qualified therapist who will make sure that the nature and course of therapy is always in the best interest of the client and the client’s well-being.
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If some of these misconceptions have held you back from seeking therapy, now is the time to reach out for a free 15-minute phone consultation call to learn how I can help you. Contact me here to set up your free consultation call.
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