{"id":36583,"date":"2025-02-26T15:54:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T15:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=36583"},"modified":"2025-04-17T21:32:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:32:57","slug":"whats-therapy-really-like-5-myths-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/whats-therapy-really-like-5-myths-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s therapy really like? 5 myths debunked","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Psychotherapy, or therapy for short, can be beneficial for both mental and physical health, but if you\u2019ve never worked with a therapist, the process may feel mysterious.<\/p>\n

What actually happens during a therapy session? How long will you be in therapy? Is it worthwhile if you don\u2019t have a severe condition?<\/p>\n

\u201cTherapy is largely what you as an individual make of it,\u201d says Lauren Baker, MS, LMHC, a mental health therapist with the\u00a0MultiCare Behavioral Health Network<\/a>. \u201cIt depends on your effort and readiness for change and it\u2019s ultimately about what you want to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here we bust some common myths about therapy and break down what it\u2019s really like.<\/p>\n

Myth 1: Therapy is only for people with severe mental health disorders.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Anyone can benefit from therapy \u2014 whether your symptoms are mild or severe, and whether you have a diagnosed mental health condition or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherapists do work with people who have experienced trauma or live with conditions like bipolar disorder,\u201d Baker says. \u201cBut we also help people navigate many types of everyday challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of those challenges include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Managing stress and anxiety<\/li>\n
  • Coping with grief or loss<\/li>\n
  • Dealing with life events like a divorce, the loss of a job or the birth of a baby<\/li>\n
  • Managing conflict in relationships<\/li>\n
  • Seeking personal growth, such as more self-confidence or better parenting skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Myth 2: My therapist is there to give advice and tell me what to do.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The relationship between a therapist and a client (or patient) is collaborative. While a therapist may offer guidance from time to time depending on the situation, their role is not to dictate solutions or solve problems for you.<\/p>\n

    \u201cTherapists use different approaches, but in general we\u2019re there to walk alongside you in whatever you\u2019re going through,\u201d Baker says. \u201cWe\u2019re not there to determine the path or tell you where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

    What does this look like in action? Therapists can:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Help you identify maladaptive (unhelpful) patterns of behavior<\/li>\n
    • Support you in setting goals for yourself<\/li>\n
    • Teach you strategies for improving your coping and communication skills<\/li>\n
    • Help you cultivate habits that support your physical and mental health and overall functioning<\/li>\n
    • Improve your awareness of your thoughts, feelings and behaviors<\/li>\n
    • Ask questions that help you gain insight into your life experiences<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Myth 3: I\u2019ll be able fix everything in one or two sessions.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      While there is no set timeline for therapy, most people need more than one or two sessions to fully address whatever challenges or symptoms they\u2019re experiencing. Typically, you will also have homework to do between sessions.<\/p>\n

      \u201cHomework assignments can include things like journaling or reading a book,\u201d Baker says. \u201cThey give people opportunities to implement changes or practice skills, like recognizing triggers for negative thought patterns. A lot of a person\u2019s progress actually comes from what they do outside of our sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Psychotherapy, or therapy for short, can be beneficial for both mental and physical health, but if you\u2019ve never worked with a therapist, the process may feel mysterious. What actually happens during a therapy session? How long will you be in therapy? Is it worthwhile if you don\u2019t have a severe condition? \u201cTherapy is largely what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,127],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behavioral-health","category-healthy-living"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 myths about therapy debunked - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019ve never worked with a therapist, the process may feel mysterious. 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