Getting Therapy
- Amy G Nash
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
I hear many individuals say they don't need therapy because they know what to do. Or, they get their therapy from a walk, being outside, or good friends. Or they are afraid to be misunderstood.
These statements reveal how many misunderstand what therapy is. So let me help you.
Therapy from friends. Friends do not have the objective ability to offer you sound advice. I find that most of my clients got bad advice from friends, who want to take their side and blame or even demonize the issue or person causing the issue. A good therapist will not do that. A good therapist will help you explore the "why" in your distress. If it was an easy answer, you wouldn't be bringing it up to others. Save yourself trouble. Bring it to your therapist.
Walks, gardening, enjoying nature, enjoying friends are all types of self-care. These are all good things. But self-care doesn't answer questions to the issues you struggle with. As a therapist, a person with good self-care is halfway towards recovery, and makes dealing with the questions so much easier. So, take heart! You have already shortened your therapy.
I know what to do. I hate to tell you this, but the group most likely to get therapy is therapists. Because it's not about knowing. It's about getting an objective point of view. We are all too close to ourselves to see troubling situations clearly. A good therapist will help you come back to center, to remember what you know, and give insight to what is going on in your life. All of these are invaluable techniques.
Most individuals use these excuses because it takes a great deal of courage to face yourself honestly. Society promotes using masks, staying superficial, ignoring symptoms of distress or anxiety. Don't let society or family or friends dictate your mental health.
There is still some stigma to getting therapy, some assumptions that you have a "mental" problem. Your therapist will help you deal with these fears as well.
