Therapy: What Are We Afraid Of?
“One of the biggest things that scared me about therapy was the fact that someone was going to force me to tell the truth about myself”
I grew curious about the idea of seeing a therapist for some time now but wasn’t sure where to start. I decided to confide in a close friend who has been going to therapy for a couple of years now, to see what it was like. For the purpose of keeping their identity private, we will call them Jane. Jane decided after months of debating to finally go see a professional. Working a full-time job as well as raising a daughter and taking care of her mother, she was mentally exhausted.
“What was the breaking point for you?”
Jane: I was picking (her daughter) up from her father’s house, and I got a call from my manager at work. He wasn’t happy with the way I submitted some forms and basically demanded me to resubmit them that same night. While I’m being yelled at, my daughter is throwing a tantrum because she wanted to stay at her father’s house longer. I still had to go run several important errands, and I literally felt myself about to short circuit. I needed help. I didn’t know how to balance it all.
One thing that people think when it comes to the idea of going to therapy is that their issues are not big enough to have it handled at the hands of a professional. The idea of talking out your problems to a complete stranger terrifies people. According to Clarity Counseling, “Any issue that prevents you from enjoying life is serious”. People will try their hardest to ignore those problems in hopes that they would just go away. The first step is admitting there is a problem.
So where do you start?
Research is your friend! Before diving right into therapy, it’s important to do some research, to get a better understanding of what therapy is, and what it can do for you in the long run. Speaking to individuals who have gone or are going through therapy can help you gain a perspective of how the process works.
Remember, everyone’s experiences with therapy varies. Take the information given to you as a guide, not certainty.
Find therapists in your area, and see if they specialize in what you need, and what you will need to get started. The hardest part is starting.
“How are you handling therapy sessions in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic?”
Jane: My meetings are now on Zoom. It can be frustrating because physically attending my meetings allowed me to have some outside time away from home. From the drive to the 1-hour session, I was able to relax and just BREATHE. I am learning new ways to find the good in this transition, but it definitely is an adjustment.
With COVID-19 still present, it is still possible to reach out and work on your physical and mental health. So what do you say? Are you willing to try therapy?
References
“10 Reasons People Don’t Attend Therapy.” Clarity Counseling Center, 26 May 2020, www.claritywilmington.com/therapy/10-reasons-people-dont-attend-therapy/.
Donahue, Rosemary. “This Month, ‘Allure’ Wants to Get You Talking About Therapy.” Allure, www.allure.com/story/lets-talk-therapy-month.
Fabian, Renée. “Therapists Want to Provide Affordable Mental Health Care. Here’s What’s Stopping Them.” California Health Report, California Health Report, 21 Oct. 2020, www.calhealthreport.org/2020/09/24/therapists-want-to-provide-affordable-mental-health-care-heres-whats-stopping-them/.
