Five Facts About Therapy That You Need To Know

For years, there has been a negative perception surrounding therapy, and in certain groups, this narrative persists. You may have even heard a few of these damaging misconceptions yourself.  

The negativity surrounding therapy has led some to wrongly believe that therapy is only for those who are “weak”, keeping alive stereotypes that ignore its many helpful qualities. Or perhaps, you’ve heard people express the sentiment that therapy is simply a means of blaming parental figures for every mental health challenge, rather than the individual taking personal accountability. This couldn’t be further from the truth. 

In this blog, we’ll look at the reality of psychology by uncovering five facts about therapy that you need to know, and how it may empower you to cope with stressors and build a more fulfilling life. 

Let’s get into it.  

So, what exactly is therapy? 

Good question. Therapy, also referred to as “talk therapy” or psychotherapy, is a type of treatment that aims to address and relieve emotional distress and/or mental health conditions.  

Psychotherapy can be provided by regulated healthcare professionals like social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists.  These practitioners will guide discussions and offer insight into the mental health struggles of individuals, couples, children and families. For this blog, we’ll be focusing on psychologists. 

There are many different forms of therapy — for example cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy — each one offering a different methodology for addressing and understanding human behaviour, thoughts and feelings.  

Why do people go to therapy? Well, there may be lots of reasons. Each individual is unique, and the approach to mental wellbeing isn’t one-size-fits-all — therapy looks different for everyone.  

But there are some interesting facts about therapy that you should know before you begin your journey to mental wellbeing.  

Fact One: Many psychologists don’t give direct advice. 

Typically, most therapists do not offer direct advice to their clients. Instead, they encourage autonomy, empowering their clients to come up with their own solutions.  

Often, one of the goals of therapy may be to guide the client to a point where they no longer need it. And what better way to achieve this than by teaching individuals, couples and families to explore their experiences, thoughts and emotions, and create their own methods, support and skills that positively impact their mental health. 

There may be certain instances where a mental health professional may make an encouragement or a recommendation, like suggesting exercise or journaling. But these suggestions help develop overall wellbeing, as well as support the therapeutic process. 

Another reason for this is that the effectiveness of giving direct advice is still a highly contested idea. In the 1940s, American Psychologist Carl Rogers promoted a method called person-centered therapy, initially named non-directive therapy, in an attempt to address this notion. Rogers believed that people are naturally driven to attain positive psychological well-being for themselves. In his approach, the client is considered the expert in their life, guiding the therapy's direction, while the therapist should maintain a non-directive role. Allowing individuals to devise their own solutions, Rogers argued, enhances self-reliance, unlike giving direct advice, which might unintentionally foster a false perception that the patient cannot direct their own life. 

Fact Two: You don’t need to have a mental health disorder to go to therapy. 

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to wait for a crisis or distressing event to seek out a psychologist.  

Of course, a traumatic life event or persistent feelings of anxiety and depression are valid reasons to see a mental health professional. But people can go to therapy for a variety of reasons — you don’t need to wait until something stressful happens, or to feel like you’ve reached a certain “level” of depressed.  

It’s okay to meet with a psychologist if you feel like you want some extra support. Talking with a mental health practitioner — even over seemingly “unimportant” items (although stressors and triggers look different for everyone) — may help individuals cope with future distress. It can be a preventative measure for overall mental wellbeing.  

Fact Three: It’s work—and you’ll be an active participant in the process. 

As we mentioned earlier, many therapists don’t provide clients with direct advice. That means that engagement and participation will play a big part in the therapeutic process.  

The relationship between a psychologist and client is built on trust, respect and collaboration. The two parties need to work together to achieve goals and positive outcomes. They must also share the load and responsibility of progress. The practitioner should provide guidance and support, and the client should participate and take action on applying these new skills to their daily life.  

Fact Four: It’s not forever.  

Ultimately, the goal is to terminate therapy once the individual has achieved their goals. For instance, if someone starts working with a psychologist to address something like managing their workplace stressors, therapy may be done once the client can identify triggers and use appropriate coping strategies (or maybe they change jobs). 

It’s important to note that ending your therapy sessions should be a happy time — a time to celebrate! This accomplishment is something to be proud of. A good psychologist should be supportive and experienced in handling the end of the client-therapist relationship.  

Fact Five: There are many different branches of psychology to explore. 

Psychology is the study of human behaviour and mind. And within this field of study, there are several branches, which, in turn, means there are several different types of psychologists. 

There are psychologists who will study and work with certain professions or industries: like aviation psychologists or school psychologists. There are psychologists who examine consumer behaviour, called consumer psychologists. There are psychologists who focus on human development across the lifespan, called development psychologists. The list goes on and on.  

It's important to note that while this list showcases the diverse field of psychology, not all of these terms and areas of specialization are universally recognized. 

One of the more common types, also recognized in Ontario, is a clinical psychologist. These practitioners examine, diagnose and treat people who are experiencing mental illness or mental distress.  

The secret is to find the one that’s right for you. Luckily, the OPA can help you find an Ontario-based licensed psychologist that is matched to your specific needs, no matter the area of focus. Visit AskForHelpToday.ca to learn more.