Blog 1 (Part 1 of 8): Myths and misconceptions about therapy
Deciding to look into therapy can feel intimidating. Booking your first session can feel overwhelming. Going through therapy can feel liberating. Ending therapy can make you feel happy and nervous at the same time. It is safe to say, therapy is like a roller coaster, just like life! In therapy, you get to do that journey alongside a trusted professional who can get you to the other end knowing yourself better. You will have a bag full of tools and reflections to live the rest of your life differently, in a way that feels right for you – put a price on that! I have written the next few blog articles to help bust any myths/misconceptions that might be stopping you from signing up to therapy. Let’s take a look at what therapy is, what it isn’t and how it really works…..
When you break your leg and go to hospital, you roughly know what to expect – your leg is likely to be X-rayed, set in a cast to heal and you might even have crutches for a few weeks. When you take your car to the garage, you know what to expect – you leave it there to get its repairs done and pick it up later. If only our brains were this simple! When you book in to see a Psychologist, many people have no idea what to expect. Questions I have been asked in the past include:
- “do we just have a chat and talk every session?”
- “do I just talk about my feelings?”
- “do I need to have a trauma or have had an awful childhood to come to therapy? And do we even have to discuss my childhood”
- “will you give me medication or CBD oil?”
- “will I be hypnotised?”
- “are you a mind reader?”
- “do you just teach people to be more like you?”
- And the classic “do I lie back on a fancy lounger when I speak to you?” (oh I do love how they portray Psychologists in movies!!!)
Join the dots:
Don’t believe everything you hear / see / read about therapy.
Let’s take a look at what really happens in therapy...(go to Blog 1, Part 2)