Three Myths about Therapy
Myth#1 Therapy is for crazy people
Reality: Therapy is for human beings
There’s this idea that you have to be going through something really difficult such as divorce or losing a loved one in order to seek professional help.
Others believe that one has to have a mental disorder or diagnosis to seek therapy.
Basically, the underlying message here is that if you need therapy there MUST be something wrong with you.
Although we have come a long way there still seems to be stigma around mental health.
As a Latina, I recognize that in the Hispanic culture there isn’t a place to openly discuss one’s feelings or seek professional help.
If you’re a human being, then therapy is for you. If a person is feeling physically sick, they call their doctor.
If they have a toothache they call their dentist. But if they are struggling emotionally, there unlikely to feel free to reach out to a therapist for care.
It’s as if our mental health is minimized and our physical health is deemed as more important.
I would argue that our mental health is just as important, if not more important, than our physical health.
When a person is in distress and they don’t work through their issues, they’re actually more vulnerable to illnesses.
In some cases, physical symptoms come about as a direct result of any emotional imbalance and not as a result of a medical condition.
Myth#2 Therapy is a waste of time
Reality: Therapy is one of the best investments you can make on yourself
Many people say that they would rather talk to their partners or friends about their emotional challenges for free than pay a complete stranger.
I want to highlight that our partners and friends do play an important role in our lives, as they provide a level of emotional support; however, they are not therapists.
It’s unrealistic to expect that our loved ones could meet all of our emotional needs.
Therapy is never a waste of time unless the person seeking it out is not ready, able to or willing to look at themselves and do the internal work it requires on their part.
In addition, it’s important that the therapist be a good fit for the person seeking help.
I cannot stress enough all the ways that working on your mental health can be beneficial.
Oftentimes, people invest in material things, i.e. a house but at the end of the day it’s people, it’s our relationships that matter.
Investing in one’s mental health can improve your overall sense of wellbeing which in turn has a ripple effect on your relationships and other people that you interact with.
Consider that there are somethings you just can’t put a price tag on- like you, my dear, who is reading this blog.
You are precious and you deserve to live your best life. Why not invest in your mental health?
Myth#3 Seeing a therapist is a sign of weakness
Reality: Therapy is for the courageous
When people use the term weakness they’re usually referring to a defect in a person’s character.
However, a weakness could also be viewed as a growth area where you have an opportunity to make progress.
Seeing a therapist is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.
It takes a high level of awareness and attunement to oneself to recognize when you need help; and then it’s even harder to take the necessary steps to actually get the help that you need!
It takes a lot of guts to look at oneself, be vulnerable with another human being, and begin to do the internal work that would help you grow into the best version of yourself.
In general, it’s common to feel anxious when starting something new, even when it’s a positive change; however, that feeling can also show up when seeing a therapist for the first time because of the fear of the unknown.
Taking action in spite of the fear is a courageous act.
Closing
Are you ready to take your power back?
Don’t allow others’ inaccurate beliefs to steal the gift you can give yourself by doing your own inner healing and receiving the help that you need.
I’m ready to help you in this journey of transformation you are about to embark on.
You were meant for so much more!