It's the 21st century and there is still a huge stigma surrounding mental illness, mental health, and therapy. I still don't understand why, because mental illness is something that a person cannot help, but recovery and going to therapy is a choice that can be beneficial to all. Therapy is really for anyone, and a person doesn't have to have a mental illness to go; there are so many reasons people can go to therapy, and quite frankly, I think everyone should go at least once in their lifetime.
I have been in therapy for two years now. I have severe depression, among other things that aren't important in this article. A high school teacher had convinced me to go because it was bad and I wasn't getting the help I needed. The first session was awkward because I wasn't admitting any of my problems, except that I was an awful procrastinator (still am). I'm sure my counselor could start putting two and two together, and the next session I actually opened up about my problems. Yes, it was scary. Yes, I had to allow myself to be vulnerable. But I survived it, and I'm still seeing her two years later.
I think that some false beliefs that may or may not stem from stigma are that you'll get better immediately, if the person you see isn't right for you, then you hopeless, you have to be "really bad" to seek help, and you have to have a mental illness. All of those are false.
As I've said earlier, I have been in therapy for two years, and I still have depression. It's not a 'fix all' type of solution. But we've worked through stuff, and that's what's important, and we've become very close-0 as close as a professional relationship can be. And things have not always been perfect. I have gotten mad at her, and she has gotten mad at me, and that's because we do have a relationship, and mixed emotions come with any relationship from time to time.
I'm lucky that I've had success with her, but some don't always have successes, and that's not on you or sometimes not even your therapist, but it just means that you two weren't meant to work together. They might have a different approach than what you need, you might need a stricter therapist, etc.
Another thing that is a false belief is that people think that a person has to be "really bad" or in serious crisis to get help. Wrong. If you have depression, you might need extra support. If you have anxiety, you might need help. Any mental illness, you might need help, and it doesn't matter if it's mild or severe.
Lastly, a person doesn't need to have a mental illness to go to therapy. So many people go to therapy to work through issues, gain coping skills for stress, they need to talk to someone that is unbiased, they're going through life changes. they are unsure what they want to do in life, a loved one passed away, there are stressors at work, family problems, you have low self-esteem, etc. Everyone needs support, and there's nothing wrong with reaching out, working through stuff, learning about self-care, and just talking to someone who isn't going to tell everyone (confidentiality is beautiful). There are different types of therapists that will help you with whatever you need. Some people go to therapy only once, because they find a solution, and some go for years; there is no time frame.
As a psychology student, I am happy to understand what it's like on both sides of the couch, and I think every person should go to therapy at least once in their life, but I especially think that psychology students should understand what it's like on both sides of the couches; I think those students or therapists who go to therapy are better therapists in the long run.
