Top 3 Myths about Counseling in Edmond
You’re considering counseling in Edmond but also have a few myths or barriers to allowing yourself to take the next step and reach out. That is completely understandable! There is a lot of different information out there and it can be hard to discern what counseling could be like when you read about how X is the best approach or how Y technique changed someone’s life. Not to mention what media, movies and TV shows put out there that rarely accurately portray therapy.
I hope that in reading this blog you are better able to understand what therapy is actually about and provide some reassurance given that these myths can hinder you and others from seeking out a therapist.
Myth #1 I will quickly see improvements while in counseling.
I want to tell you that you will feel better after each therapy session because that seems like what people want at times but I can’t. There will be sessions where you leave feeling relief, excitement and everything deemed positive by society and there will be time when you leave feeling more stressed, worried and all in all “negative”. In my practice, I delight when I see clients feeling hard feelings as we often spend a good chunk of our energy trying to avoid them; however that does mean that some sessions feel more taxing than others.
There is a deep desire for improvement and that is possible however many times people have an idea of what improving looks like and it’s often inaccurate. You will struggle to see improvement especially when things seem to be getting worse instead of the ideal which is for things to get BETTER, obviously. I find that there is often a learning curve to being able to notice and see improvement that you make as a client because we often believe that if we know something needs to changed then we will just change it. If that were true, trust me you would have already changed it.
Myth #2 I don’t need counseling because I have friends, the gym, “retail therapy”, etc.
Those are all great resources to have and do attribute to our overall mental well-being. There are times in our lives where those resources paired with where we find ourselves in life allow us to cultivate the life we want. It’s very possible that these activities make it to where counseling may not be the best fit however these items do not provide what therapy offers. They are ways of coping while therapy is a place you go to transform and create something new. Therapy is a steady and consistent space that shows up for you even when you are struggling to do that for yourself.
Myth #3 All you do in therapy is talk about your past and blame caretakers for your issues
Correct! Just kidding there is some truth to the statement and your past is often explored in therapy. In my practice, I often want to know what you took away from your past experiences. We may explore how those relationships and events impacted how you see the world. At the same time, I don’t want us to live in the past because we don’t create change in the past.
In regards to caretakers, I take the approach that it’s hard to deny that our caretakers didn’t impact who we are. It is unfair to blame any one thing or person for the struggles we have now as adults. In my practice, I like to focus on how we can move through difficulties differently. We explore what allows you to keep your peace of mind and stay connected to a strong sense of self.
Ready to start your counseling Journey?
I hope this helps to debunk some common myths about therapy and how they may hinder your ability to reach out. If you are ready to start your counseling journey in Edmond then book your free discovery call with me and uncover the transformative potential of therapy, guided by a clear plan and the expertise of the right therapist can help you now, tomorrow and well into your future.
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