Top Myths (1-4) About Counseling: Insights from a Therapist in Minneapolis
Throughout the years seeing a therapist or counselor has been hard because of the preconceived ideas that people had about what must be wrong with you to need to see someone. Called head shrinks, brainwashers, and the like it’s easy to see how there is an underlying negative belief about needing to see a therapist.
The truth is that most people could utilize seeing a therapist at some point in their life. Either from life struggles, a diagnosable mental issue or to work on past problems that continue to affect your life today. It’s important to look at our own belief systems that could be causing us to not get the help that we need.
It’s estimated that about 57% of people who could use the help of a counselor don’t seek one out. Here are some common myths about therapy to help those considering therapy for the first time from a therapist who’s been in practice for 20 years.
Myth 1 – Therapy is Only for Severe Mental Health Issues
Therapists can see individuals with severe mental health but typically depending on the need they may require a higher level of care. Schizophrenia, bipolar, major depressive disorder severe type, and the like all need a multiteam approach to their care.
For most individuals who are dealing with daily stress, anxiety, and life challenges talking with a trained professional can help them to work through life’s issues and get clarity, change, and perspective they need. Insurance will only pay for counseling if there is an identified mental health issue that qualifies, all people can still talk to a therapist out of pocket.
While doing therapy in Minneapolis, I’ve helped many people who just need to deal with today's struggles and move on in their lives. Don’t limit yourself because you think you have to reach a certain level of mental issues to benefit. Many people come to therapy for extra support and are greatly helped.
Myth 2 – Talking to Friends and Family is Just as Effective
I hear this a lot from people, from bartenders to hairdressers, to friends and family that they are as good as a therapist. The truth is it may be. I’ve also worked with people who had the worst advice from others trying to fix their problems or get them to do what they wanted them to.
I believe it depends on the person you’re talking to and what they’re doing or saying plus what your problem is. If you just need to get something off your chest, like your coworker that’s frustrating you, then sure friends and family could be helpful. I actually help couples with stress reduction in conversations with their spouse.
However, sometimes you need more than a listening ear. You need someone trained not only in listening skills but in therapy techniques. When problems persist, stressors increase, or you feel you keep going around in circles about a problem, then a professional could be exactly who you’re looking for.
All licensed therapists like myself (LPCC - licensed professional clinical counselor) have to have at least a master’s degree and supervision hours before they can be licensed. Personally, as a therapist in Minneapolis, I’ve focused my counseling on the skills of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This technique can help to break thought cycles that cause life cycles that are unhealthy or unhelpful. When we focus on what is right we can break through to the other side. I of course use other techniques like ACT, DBT skills, person-centered, and Gottman techniques throughout the counseling session depending on what each individual client needs.
Therapy is much more than listening or giving good advice, it’s about a trained professional using all the skills they’ve specialized in to help you reach your goals and maybe even beyond.
Myth 3 – Therapy is Too Expensive
Expense is something we have to address in all areas of life. The extensive training that therapists get does reflect how much they charge for a session. Therapists and counselors are often on the bottom compared to other jobs that require similar degrees. HMO and PPO Insurance can often reimburse part or all of the cost of a session depending on if deductibles have been met.
The cost of not seeing a therapist however can be much greater than the actual bill is worth. For many who don’t get help, there are worsening mental health symptoms. This means it isn’t getting better because of the lack of attention to it. For instance, anxiety could go from several times a month to several times a week, to several times a day. Affecting everything that is going on throughout the day. Similar to marriage problems. Sweeping under the rug often leads to distance that can lead to divorce or staying in an unsatisfying marriage which has a huge emotional toll.
The worsening symptoms then contribute to a reduced quality of life. This can interfere with daily functioning like relationships, work, social, and even your ability to keep your house clean. As the problems increase then the quality of life decreases, and the decrease in the quality of life contributes to worsening symptoms. It can be a vicious cycle.
It can also affect your physical health. Our mind and our body are very much connected. Stress, depression, marriage problems, etc cause physical symptoms leading to headaches, stomach problems, muscle tension, decreased ability to focus, etc.
Other ways that our mental health can cost us when we’re not doing well is a decrease in productivity, an increase in health care costs as our mental health causes an exacerbation of physical health issues, and even job instability. There are very few companies that keep employees that are unable to come to work, stay at work, or get their jobs done.
There is also a social cost to not getting help. Strained relationships can cause social isolation. This in turn can contribute to more mental health issues. There can also be broader social problems caused by untreated mental health problems.
An intergenerational impact occurs as a parent's mental health problems affect their children. Instability of mood, whatever the reason, can increase fear, anger, and depression in children. This can cause the next generation to continue the cycle of mental health problems.
Though it’s true that therapy in Minneapolis can be expensive in the short term the investment can help the personal, economic, and social costs from happening or worsening. Early intervention and treatment can lead to better outcomes, improve the quality of life, and reduce overall expenses. It's important to see therapy is a proactive step toward maintaining mental and physical health, and it ultimately pays off by reducing or stopping these extensive costs.
Myth 4 – Therapy is Only for People Who Can’t Handle Their Problems Alone
There is a subcultural expectation in America that we should be able to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and take care of things ourselves. This comes from the conquering mentality of many of our ancestors who came here or were here and were trying to survive. For immigrants, it was often a walking away from communities and even family that they likely never saw again. This was followed by moving west and conquering the land.
The heroic undertone of all of this indicates that we can do it alone. It has continued to this day, even though we tend to live in urban societies. But looking past the romance at the real desires of people's hearts we can see that we’re made to go it together. Sure, there are some real loners out there but rarely are they totally alone.
Getting help from a professional can help us to be our best selves by talking things out with a non-judgmental, compassionate person, who is trained to help us reach our goals and break through the obstacles in our lives that can be holding us back in some or many areas.
As I’ve worked as a CBT counselor I’ve been able to help people see how their own limiting beliefs have held them back. We all, even myself, have limiting beliefs in areas that affect our lives and what we achieve. The thing is, even as a therapist I can’t see my own limiting beliefs. It takes seeing it from a fresh perspective many times for the clarifying moment. As a therapist in Minneapolis trained to pick up on these limiting beliefs, ties to your past, and cycles that need to be broken, I can help you get to the next level in your life.
It’s up to you if you want to go it alone but I challenge you to look around and see if your life is where you want it to be and ask yourself if getting some help can make it better.
Conclusion
Therapy in Minneapolis can really help you to reach your best potential by breaking through the problem areas. The sooner you address a problem the better. Therapy isn’t meant to be forever, it’s a step in the right direction for you to move forward (whatever your specific forward means).
Don’t let the myths about therapy and counseling stop you. A trained therapist can help in ways that others can’t because of their training and get you on the right path for your life.
As a therapist in Minneapolis, I can help you with anxiety therapy, marriage counseling, and Christian counseling.
Reach out today for that extra help! 612-633-3557 or fill out this form and I’ll get back to you.
Like what you've read, here are some more ports you may enjoy:
https://unlockingbeauty.com/blog/post/faqs-about-therapy-in-minneapolis
https://unlockingbeauty.com/blog/post/finding-a-therapist-in-minneapolis-navigating-the-shortage-and-seeking-support
