5 Lies About Psychotherapy You Should Be Aware Of

Psychotherapy is a world that has not yet been fully explored. There are so many myths, half-truths and meaningless lies about psychotherapy that people firmly believe in. In reality, some people do not fully understand that all our experiences lie in our mind, which lies in the brain, and that the brain is a complex organ that can function incorrectly.

It is perfectly normal for the mind not to always work at its maximum capacity. The important thing to understand here is that the treatment of the mind is more abstract than for other body parts. The brain is not just an organ, but a producer of intangible experiences. This may explain why some of the processes are not treated with a pill or an injection, but with other methods. One of them is psychotherapy.

Many individuals criticize psychotherapy without having been in therapy at least once. It is impossible for someone to have a real perspective on something when they have not experienced it themselves. In addition, there are well-known comics and clichés that have generated prejudice against this type of treatment. What are these unfounded misconceptions some people blindly believe in? Here are five of them.

1. You should resort to therapy when you need someone to talk to

Sometimes you hear things like “God is the best psychologist” or “I do not need to go to a psychologist because that’s what friends are for”. Phrases like this represent one of the biggest when it comes to lies about psychotherapy: that going into therapy is like having a normal conversation.

It is true that words are the basic tool for almost all psychotherapies. But therapists establish dialogues with their patients to help them, not to talk about everyday things.

2. You should only go into therapy during crises

Yes, most people go into psychotherapy when they go through a crisis. Usually, their reason for going into therapy is a loss (such as a breakup or death of a loved one). In times like these, individuals realize that they may need professional help.

Obviously, psychotherapy can help treat such situations and serve as a guide for the patient so that they are properly healed. But you do not necessarily have to go through a crisis to go to a psychologist. You can go into therapy to deal with all kinds of situations, not just critical ones.

Only famous therapists are good

This is definitely one of the biggest when it comes to lies about psychotherapy. Many people believe that only extremely qualified professionals are good at what they do. But this is not always true.

For psychotherapy to work, the patient must be fully engaged. By this we do not mean that it is not important for the therapist to be well trained. However, not only well-known or reputable therapists are good at what they do.

4. Psychotherapy does the same thing that a good friend can do

Our good friends are always interested in and willing to help us  if they see that we are not well. Having friends who are willing to listen to you and give you their opinions on your issues is a valuable thing you should not take for granted. Your friends help you because they want the best for you.

That said, there is a big difference between the feeling of warmth and company that they can give you and the ability a person needs to discover and help you deal with an emotional or mental problem. Only a trained therapist can do the latter.

5. It is a necessary sacrifice

This article on lies about psychotherapy would be incomplete without this cliché. So many people think that therapy is an extremely serious process where the person should be analyzed and asked. This could not be further from the truth. The patient is the star of therapy. Psychotherapy is about the patient and their needs.

In fact, not many people know just how interesting and fun this process can be. When you are really committed and want to improve, it becomes something you look forward to every week. With the help of a well-trained and reliable professional, this self-discovery process can be quite enlightening.

People should know that psychotherapy is a viable option when they need help or feel that life is not going the way they want it to. It is also important to note that no one should be ashamed to go into therapy. There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel better, so do not let these clichés stop you from embarking on this wonderful journey.