There are a lot of misconceptions about therapy out there.
- It’s only for “crazy people”
- Psychologists can change their patients’ personalities
- It lasts forever
- It costs a fortune
- Psychologists themselves are either perfect, or total “nut-jobs”
I recently had the opportunity to weigh in on a couple of these – and many more – myths about therapy. The article turned out awesome, informative and fun to read. Here are a couple of my quotes:
They’re not here to tell you if you should call off your marriage or quit your job. “The real job of therapy is to get to know yourself better and change the way you’re thinking, the way you’re behaving, or the way you’re understanding the world,†says Smith. “The process of therapy is not to give good give advice.â€
and
“Sometimes I think people hesitate to embark on therapy because they feel like ‘If I go once I’m going to be sucked in for 10 years, three times a week,’ and it feels like this huge decision,†says Smith. But the length and frequency of therapy is very individual. It can be a one-time deal, a few months of sessions, or longer depending on what you’re going through and what you’re looking to accomplish.
To read the article in its entirety, check it out on Buzzfeed.