Time and time again, I’ve witnessed families, relationships, friendships and entire livelihoods be destroyed by issues that could have been resolved with just a little more attention. Specifically, more attention to finding the root of problems and seeking appropriate resolutions for those problems. Sometimes the resolution may be as simple as a family intervention, or a little family love, however, some issues span outside of the realm of such simple help, and require more care than usual: professional help to be exact.
After receiving counseling, myself, I know personally how important it can be, but whenever I recommend it to others, I’m most always met with some excuse created by the negative social standard that has become automatically associated with therapy. People are too embarrassed, too shy, and ultimately too misinformed to understand how critical outside help can be. But before you make the same mistake and write off therapy completely, here are 7 of the biggest myths associated with professional help:
1. “If I go get counseling, they’ll prescribe me a pill”
Just because you are working with a “Dr.” doesn’t mean you will be prescribed a pill, and just because you need help, doesn’t mean you need medicinal help. A lot of counseling involves simply talking and working with the therapist to resolve certain issues.
2. “If I seek help, everyone else will find out about it”
Counselors are obliged by professional ethics and state law to protect your confidentiality and privacy during counseling and after counseling is over. The only time this isn’t true, is in extreme cases where someone is in impending danger or a judge requires release of counseling. Other than that, information can only be shared if you share it or you provide written authorization for releasing information. A good counselor will make sure you are aware of their confidentiality clause prior to seeing you.
3. “Everyone who goes to counseling is either mentally ill, or bat sh*t crazy”
Problems, stressors, and difficulties, discriminate against no one. Every single one of us experience them, we just process them differently. So to call someone crazy for experiencing the same uncontrolled and unwarranted difficulties as you, would be insensitive. Furthermore, a majority of the people who seek counseling are educated, employed, skilled, and live normal lives.
4. “Counseling takes forever”
The length of therapy depends entirely on the severity of the issues at hand. However, most counseling is short term and can be completed on your own schedule. Additionally, a good counselor is more invested in helping you meet your personal goals, rather than making you waste your time and money with long drawn out sessions.
5. “Therapy means I’m weak”
Getting help actually means the contrary. Realizing you need help, and actually going to get it, automatically makes you more courageous than most. Learning about yourself, and opening up to a stranger, takes a lot of hard work and dedication that a “weak” person couldn’t possibly fathom.
6. “The therapist doesn’t know me, therefore won’t be able to help me”
You know when you need fashion advice, how you’d rather ask the store employee for their unbiased opinion opposed to your best friend who thinks you look good in everything? Asking for advice from a therapist is the same concept. It’s more beneficial to you, and your goals, that your therapist be a stranger, with an unbiased outlook on your issues. A stranger is less likely to sugar-coat things, or tell you what you want to hear, which would be a counterproductive approach for helping you solve your problems.
7. “Therapy is too expensive”
If you bought your health insurance plan through state exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act, mental health care is covered. It is one of the 10 benefits that must be covered on all plans under the law. If you are insured through your employer, there’s a good chance you’re covered, too. A lot of offices accept payment plans as well, if you can put your favorite pair of shoes on lay-away, why not therapy.
Yes, getting professional help is a huge step; but in the right direction if you need help and aren’t properly resolving it. There have been murders, suicide, and lifetime’s filled with depression, that could have all been avoided from simply speaking with a professional. Sitting stagnant won’t help anything, so if any part of you thinks you need help, I strongly encourage you to do your research and find a therapist that works for you.
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
