×

4 Myths About Going to Therapy

4 Myths About Going to Therapy

Mental health challenges affect 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 youth between the ages of 13−18. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental illness often prevents people from getting help and utilizing support services in their area. 

It’s time to stop the stigmas surrounding mental health, and learn how we can help. Here are four common myths about going to therapy:

Myth #1: Going to therapy means I’m crazy and/or weak.

  • The majority of individuals in therapy are normal, ordinary people dealing with everyday problems. Some of the most common reasons people seek therapy are because they’re struggling to adjust to major life changes (like having a baby, moving, marriage or divorce), experiencing grief, processing anger, wanting to improve relationships and even work on their self-esteem. There are many other reasons people seek help from therapy, all of which are very normal.

    Seeking help and going to therapy, is an indication that you can accept that you might need help or guidance of another, and that you’re willing to do what is necessary to take care of yourself. This is the essence of emotional maturity. It’s certainly not weak.

Myth #2: Therapy is endless and will cost me a small fortune.

  • Therapy isn’t necessarily a never-ending string sessions that will last a lifetime. Our therapists are trained to work with you to put together a treatment plan based on your goals. The length of therapy can certainly vary from individual to individual depending on past traumas and history; however, the average therapy course is 3−4 months.

    As for cost, we are sensitive to financial stress, which is why we’ll work with you to find the payment option that works best for you. Some of our locations offer a sliding scale fee based on gross yearly income, and others are able to offer a variety of funding services based on the service provided and location. We also accept insurance and Medicaid. If you are currently uninsured, let us know during your initial phone call and we’ll work together to find a solution that works for you.

Myth #3: Therapists will blame and shame me.

  • All of our therapists and counselors take a trauma-informed approach to care. An example of this is instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?” we will ask, “What happened to you?” We are here for you. During therapy, it’s not our job to take sides or shame our clients into acting or being a certain way, but to help teach our clients to have compassion for themselves and their surroundings.

Myth #4: Therapy will make me worse.

  • We know that for those who have experienced trauma, such as emotional or physical abuse and neglect, the idea of focusing your attention on those past emotions can be extremely difficult. During therapy, we won’t aggressively push you to talk about painful material. Instead, we’ll proceed safely at a pace that is comfortable for you. There might be times when therapy will be difficult, but we’ll work together through it. Just remember that you’re not alone in this.

I Need Help. Now What?

You can read more about our outpatient counseling services in Kansas and Missouri. Or feel free to give us a call at 855-778-5437, option 5, to begin the intake process. We look forward to being there for you.

Learn More About Outpatient Counseling