Top Myths About Seeing a Therapist in West Seattle

Myths About Therapy in West Seattle

If this is your first time considering therapy or counseling then you might be feeling overwhelmed by the whole process. You may not even be sure if therapy will help you, or if it is appropriate for your situation. There is a lot of misinformation out there about what therapy is and is not, so it’s understandable if you’re confused. Even if you’ve managed to find a few therapists in West Seattle, you might still be concerned about whether it is right for you. I hope that I can clear up some of the misconceptions about therapy and counseling in order to help you make an informed decision about whether it is a good option for you. Below are some common myths about therapy and an explanation of the truth. 

Myths About Therapy in West Seattle

Myth: If you’ve had a bad experience with therapy it’s not worth trying again.

This is a tough one. It makes sense that if you went to see a therapist and had a horrible experience you’d be reluctant to go again. In a perfect world, this would not happen but unfortunately, sometimes the first therapist you see isn’t a good fit. If this happened to you, I would strongly encourage you to give it another try. I wish your first experience had been better, but I want you to know that therapy truly can help. When you find a therapist who is a good fit for you, therapy can be highly effective. I always recommend doing a few consultations to get a feel for what it might be like to work with different therapists. This usually helps ensure a good experience when you meet with them face-to-face, but sometimes after meeting, you may realize you need to find someone else. It can be like dating – we would all like the first person we meet to be the one, but usually it takes some trial and error. 

Myth: A therapist in West Seattle is just there to listen and nod their head.

While therapists have a wide range of approaches, most of them do more than just sit back and listen. As a therapist, I do plenty of listening but I am also actively engaged. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process and we will be working together throughout each session. We will be in conversation — I will ask questions, share ideas or suggestions, challenge and support you, and find a rhythm that is beneficial for you.

Myth: It takes forever to see results from therapy in West Seattle

While it is true that some people are in therapy for extended amounts of time, that doesn’t mean that they have to wait forever to get results. Many of my clients start to experience some type of improvement within the first few weeks of therapy. It might take several months before someone reaches their goals, but the results are gradual. I aim to help clients get some type of relief sooner rather than later and find ways to cope to make life more manageable until deeper healing is possible. Certain types of therapy, such as Brainspotting, also tend to offer quicker relief for my clients without having to talk at length about the issue. 

Myth: You need to have a specific problem to seek therapy in West Seattle

Many clients come to me not knowing exactly what is wrong. While some people may have a specific issue they want to work on, plenty of people have a more general feeling of being stuck. It can also happen that someone might come to therapy for one issue, but then realize they need to work on something else. Either way, therapy can help you move forward and make positive changes in your life. 

Myth: A therapist in West Seattle has all the answers.

We all sometimes wish someone else had the answers. It’s tempting to think that this would make things easier. While a therapist has expertise in helping people grow and change, they are not the expert on you. You are the expert on you. The job of the therapist is to help you find your own answers. I love working with clients to find their inner wisdom and develop self-trust. I help people who feel stuck, anxious, who are faced with huge change, or the loss of something or someone they loved, get to know themselves better and discover the answers deep inside of them.

Myth: Therapy in West Seattle is only for people with serious mental health issues or who are in crises

People seek out therapy for lots of different reasons and you definitely don’t need to have a mental illness or be in the middle of a crisis to justify seeing a therapist. If you're experiencing distress, feeling stuck or overwhelmed, or seeking personal development, therapy might be a valuable resource. Therapy can benefit individuals dealing with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, grief, and life transitions. 

I hope this helps debunk some of the myths about seeing a therapist in West Seattle. It’s important that people understand what therapy truly is and how it can help them. If you’re still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (646) 543-7878, or contact me here, for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to talk with you about what is going on and who might be the right person to help. If I’m not the right person then I will do my best to point you in the right direction. If you are looking for help with life transitions, anxiety, grief, or relationship issues you can read more about how I can help here.