Making a decision to come to therapy
Common myths about people who see a therapist
Even though the friend meant it as a joke, this comment reflects one of the common myths about people who seek therapy. The myths I hear about the most are:
- Therapy is for crazy people. You have to be seriously sick to go to a therapist.
- Therapy is for weak people. After all, if you are strong, you can resolve your problems yourself and you shouldn’t be asking for help.
- Therapy is for people who don’t have any friends and are willing to pay somebody to listen to them.
The reality
As I am writing this post, I am reflecting on the sessions that I have with my insightful, and inspiring clients. These are individuals who want to learn, who are not afraid to admit that they have lost their way. They are strong enough to allow themselves to be vulnerable. They are willing to face their worst fears and tolerate discomfort in order to be able to embrace living their best life.
People who come to therapy and work their way toward living life in alignment with their values, have many things in common.
- They are willing to take risks. It’s tough to make that first step and contact a complete stranger (the therapist) with the purpose of possibly sharing your deepest secrets, embarrassing thoughts, and bitter regrets with him or her.
- They are willing to develop an insight – an awareness of what they currently may not consciously know. This self-discovery is not easy. This is definitely another risk. It can be overwhelming, and it often seems easier to maintain the status quo. Sometimes it’s difficult to realize that you have been inadvertently contributing to your life’s problems. It is important to develop self-awareness in order to become unstuck and move on.
- They are willing to face painful emotions (fear, anxiety, anger, disappointment, frustration, and hurt).
- They are willing to take steps toward their goals in spite of the painful emotions.
- They are willing to develop the capacity to become observers – of their mind, their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, as well as the here-and-now process. They cultivate a bird’s eye view as opposed to being entangled in the tornado of events, automatic thoughts, and emotions.
- They are willing to persevere. Those who succeed in therapy do not just embrace the concept of change when in crisis. They continue to be committed to change over a long period of time, making one small step after another, challenging the old patterns, and creating new habits. These steps forward can be intensely difficult and challenging to do; however, essential to moving forward with living the life you envision for yourself.
People who actually come to therapy
Even after practicing for so many years, I continue to be in awe of my clients’ progress. The clients I have seen humble me with their wisdom. They inspire me to become more reflective and courageous myself. Here are some examples of clients who inspire:
Couples who are not yet married and wanting to lean about effective and healthy communication before making a full commitment to their significant other.
A newly divorced or separated couple looking towards their future.
Parents looking for strategies to help build healthier relationships with their children.
Individuals who have workplace stressors and looking for coping skills and strategies.
Many clients come to "be happier" This is one I hear all the time. I help people decide what happy looks like for them and we develop goals to get them achieving their best happy and valued living life.
After several years of practice, the examples are endless.
I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do. It is a great pleasure to help people find their way through their specific struggles into their bright futures as they see them.
Is it time to make the commitment to change? Are you ready to start living life on your terms?
Give us a call at (705) 243-0810 or leave us a message and we will get back to you for a free 15-minute no obligation consultation.
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