In my practice, as a Clinical Psychologist in Bloemfontein, I often encounter individuals who hold deep-seated misconceptions about therapy. Faulty ideas about therapy can harm any therapeutic process. Thus, it may be important to familiarize yourself with the myths about therapy before thinking about starting your own journey.
Myth 1: Only people with severe mental health difficulties see clinical psychologists.
Although this might have been the case five decades ago, therapy has changed significantly over the last few years. These days, clinical psychologists often see individuals with mental health challenges ranging from more severe mental health disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, or addiction, to everyday stress that might have become overwhelming.
Myth 2: My psychologist will tell me what to do when I am faced with a difficult decision.
A good and ethical psychologist believes that you are the expert in your own life. So, even though a psychologist can offer guidance or make you aware of certain things you did not consider, you should still choose what is right for you.
Myth 3: Therapy will provide a quick solution to my problems.
Most people hope that therapy will quickly change or ‘fix’ their problems, but it is not the case at all! Therapy is HARD work, and it requires time, effort, and commitment. Nevertheless, it is absolutely worth it!
Myth 4: I don’t need therapy if I have good friends and family.
Friends and family play an important role by offering social support. However, they are not professionals when it comes to more deep-seated, complex psychological issues. Like medical professionals, psychologists receive extensive training and spend years learning how to diagnose and treat a wide variety of issues. Moreover, friends and family often, without meaning to, offer you very subjective advice. Psychologists, on the other hand, can objectively analyze the issue from multiple angles without being hindered by biases.
Myth 5: Psychologists only sit and listen to people complain.
It always saddens me when individuals arrive at my practice, and I hear that this has been their experience with a previous psychologist. The role of a psychologist goes very far beyond this point! When you start with therapy, an evaluation phase will commence. Thereafter, you will work in collaboration with your psychologist to establish achievable, well-defined treatment goals that will guide the remainder of the therapeutic process. Therapy should be structured and evidence-basedto allow for effective treatment outcomes.
Thank you for reading, until next time 😉
Tanica Nel,
Clinical Psychologist.
