From Fraiser, to What About Bob, to your neighbor’s experience we all have some reference of what therapy looks like, yet, they are usually very inaccurate. I recently did an informal survey from colleagues and peers alike asking them what they’ve noticed as the most common themes from their practice with clients regarding misconceptions about the counseling process. My guess is you or someone you know has pondered the same misconceptions…
Myth 1: Your therapist is going to make you talk about things you aren’t ready to talk about.
This can be frightening and the reason many people are reluctant to engage in therapy. It’s a fine balance between feeling safe and being challenged. You want to use therapy to practice talking about the hard things in life that you can’t elsewhere. A competent therapist will challenge you appropriately and maintain emotional safety with you.
Myth 2: Therapy is only good for healing from your past but not for dealing with current practical life events.
Therapy is both restorative and preventative! It can be a tool to heal from past wounds that are impacting you but it also can be a tool to navigate current life situations that can help minimize any undesirable effects from snowballing.
Myth 3: You need to have serious trauma or a mental illness to go to therapy
Similarly to Myth 2, therapy isn’t just for trauma. We all experience varying degrees of dysfunction in how we operate. Think of it like car maintenance. Sometimes the whole engine needs replacing, other times just a small tune up or oil change does the trick.
Myth 4: You don’t need counseling if you have friends who listen
Despite how well your friend Courtney or Alex listen to you, they are not your therapist.
Don’t get me wrong, it is healthy and important to have a community of friends in our lives that support us; part of that support is having people listen and care for us. But a therapist is trained to support you differently; it is a relationship that solely focuses on you and your needs.
Myth 5: You can’t fire your therapist
The therapist can be an authority figure to some, which can make it challenging to speak up for your needs. A competent therapist will work to create space for you to be honest about what you are experiencing in the relationship. However, if you’re feeling stuck, not heard or challenged in your counseling relationship, remember that you hired them for a service and if that’s not being met, it is A-OK to “fire” them and look for another.
For those of you wondering if you are with the right therapist, check out episodes 57, 58, and 59 of The Shrink Think podcast. This podcast, hosted by two licensed mental health professionals, shares insight and guidelines to navigating this and many other related topics. Take a listen today!
Begin Working With an Online Therapist in Oregon
Starting the therapy process comes with many quetsions. Our team would be honored to offer support in helping you better understand the therapy process and overcoming mental health concerns from our Tigard, OR based-practice. You can start your therapy journey with Discover Counseling by following these simple steps:
- Contact us to speak with a mental health professional at Discover Counseling
- Schedule your first counseling appointment with our team
- Get support as you stop running away and start moving forward.
Other Counseling Services That We Offer in Tigard, OR
Our caring counselors and therapists offer different types of therapy services to support your needs. Such as therapy for anxiety, trauma recovery, life transitions, and postpartum support. As well as teen therapy, Christian counseling, and codependency treatment. We also offer support for your relationship with premarital, couples, and marriage counseling. Plus individual therapy for relationship problems.
Ready to take the next step?
We'd love to hear from you. Our therapists serve Tigard and the greater Portland area — in person and online across Oregon.
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