Myths about psychotherapy: what is important to know

For people who have never sought the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist, their work can seem quite mysterious and often scary.

American psychologists Stephanie Smith, Ryan Howes and Lynn Bufka destroy the most popular myths about this.

1.  "Give me advice."

The psychotherapist does not give advice

If you are looking for a psychologist to take responsibility for your life, make a decision for you, or tell you how to live, then your efforts are in vain.

The psychologist and psychotherapist do not give advice. The point of psychological consultation is for a person to begin to get to know himself better, to realize his situation and look at it differently and decide for himself how, based on the new understanding, he wants to live and act.

Of course, psychotherapy includes strategies, methods, and techniques that help the client cope with low self-esteem, fears or trauma. But life-related decisions are made by the client himself, and the psychotherapist acts as a support and resource.

Ask yourself a question before going to a psychotherapist: “Do you want to learn how to manage your life yourself or delegate this task to someone else?”

2. “A shoemaker without boots?”

The therapist may be undergoing therapy.

It is important to understand that a psychotherapist is also a person and also needs psychotherapeutic support. The more the psychotherapist has worked through his own problems in personal therapy, the less he projects his problems onto the client and the more effective the work with him is.  Of course, this does not mean that a psychotherapist must constantly go to therapy, but from time to time, as necessary, he can do this and this is normal. In the West, this is one of the criteria for the professionalism of a psychotherapist.

3. “I’m not crazy, I don’t need to see a psychotherapist!”

Psychotherapists work not only with mental disorders

The most popular misconception is that psychotherapy is a service for mentally ill people with mental illnesses. In fact, psychiatrists work with such people, and psychotherapists work with healthy people who do not have a psychiatric diagnosis.  But even if there is such a diagnosis, then, on the recommendation of a psychiatrist, the client can also seek psychotherapeutic support.

Usually people wait until the last minute and while they have the strength to fight on their own, they put off going to a psychotherapist. In fact, it’s better to do the opposite - don’t wait until you get so bogged down in problems that your strength runs out, but go for help when you’re depressed and feel like you can’t cope on your own.

4. “What two know, everyone knows.”

The therapist maintains the confidentiality of your information.  

In a professional environment, a psychotherapist will instantly lose the right to private practice if she reveals information about clients without their consent. This is rule number one, just like medical confidentiality or the secret of confession.  Even if supervision takes place - analysis of a complex case with a more experienced colleague, no information allowing identification of the client is disclosed.

5. “You are creating a dossier on me.”

For people who have never sought the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist, their work can seem quite mysterious and often scary.

American psychologists Stephanie Smith, Ryan Howes and Lynn Bufka destroy the most popular myths about this.

1.  "Give me advice."

The psychotherapist does not give advice

If you are looking for a psychologist to take responsibility for your life, make a decision for you, or tell you how to live, then your efforts are in vain.

The psychologist and psychotherapist do not give advice. The point of psychological consultation is for a person to begin to get to know himself better, to realize his situation and look at it differently and decide for himself how, based on the new understanding, he wants to live and act.

Of course, psychotherapy includes strategies, methods, and techniques that help the client cope with low self-esteem, fears or trauma. But life-related decisions are made by the client himself, and the psychotherapist acts as a support and resource.

Ask yourself a question before going to a psychotherapist: “Do you want to learn how to manage your life yourself or delegate this task to someone else?”

2. “A shoemaker without boots?”

The therapist may be undergoing therapy.

It is important to understand that a psychotherapist is also a person and also needs psychotherapeutic support. The more the psychotherapist has worked through his own problems in personal therapy, the less he projects his problems onto the client and the more effective the work with him is.  Of course, this does not mean that a psychotherapist must constantly go to therapy, but from time to time, as necessary, he can do this and this is normal. In the West, this is one of the criteria for the professionalism of a psychotherapist.

3. “I’m not crazy, I don’t need to see a psychotherapist!”

Psychotherapists work not only with mental disorders

The most popular misconception is that psychotherapy is a service for mentally ill people with mental illnesses. In fact, psychiatrists work with such people, and psychotherapists work with healthy people who do not have a psychiatric diagnosis.  But even if there is such a diagnosis, then, on the recommendation of a psychiatrist, the client can also seek psychotherapeutic support.

Usually people wait until the last minute and while they have the strength to fight on their own, they put off going to a psychotherapist. In fact, it's better to do the opposite - don't wait until you get so bogged down in problems that your strength runs out, but go for help when you're depressed and feel like you can't cope on your own.< /p>

4. “What two know, everyone knows.”

The therapist maintains the confidentiality of your information.  

In a professional environment, a psychotherapist will instantly lose the right to private practice if she reveals information about clients without their consent. This is rule number one, just like medical confidentiality or the secret of confession.  Even if supervision takes place - analysis of a complex case with a more experienced colleague, no information allowing identification of the client is disclosed.

5. “You are creating a dossier on me.”