The decision to seek therapy is an important step towards healing and personal growth. However, for many, the thought of attending therapy can trigger feelings of anxiety and apprehension. It’s normal to feel anxious about therapy when you do not know much about it. In this blog, we will explore the common reasons for anxiety about therapy and debunk common myths with Uncover Mental Health Counseling.
Understanding Anxiety About Therapy:
- Vulnerability and Fear of Judgment: Many people feel anxious about therapy because they worry about being vulnerable and opening up to a stranger about their struggles. The fear of being judged or criticized for their thoughts, feelings or actions can be particularly strong for those who have experienced judgment in the past.
- Stigma and Shame: Despite increasing awareness and efforts to reduce stigma, mental health issues and therapy still face some degree of societal stigma, which can cause individuals to feel anxious about therapy. People may worry that seeking therapy will lead others to view them as weak or incapable of handling their problems independently.
- Fear of Emotional Overload: Another concern is the fear of experiencing emotions during therapy. Anxiety about therapy may include addressing memories or suppressed emotions they may become emotionally overwhelmed and struggle to cope with these intense feelings.
- Uncertainty about the Process: The uncertainty surrounding the process can also create anxiety about therapy. People may wonder what a therapy session will be, like what techniques the therapist will use and how they are expected to participate.
- Fear of Change and Unknown Outcomes: Engaging in therapy often involves confronting emotions and working towards change which can be intimidating. The fear of the unknown and worries about what changes therapy may bring can lead to apprehension.
Debunking Myths About Therapy
- Only for “Serious” Mental Illness: Therapy is not exclusively for individuals with mental health conditions; it can be beneficial for anyone facing challenges, stress, or seeking personal growth and self improvement. Seeking therapy is not a sign of weakness but a display of strength and self awareness.
- Sign of Weakness: It takes courage and resilience to recognize the need for support and take action towards improving one’s well being. An anxiety therapist will see reaching out as a sign of strength.
- Therapy Will Be Painful: Although therapy may bring up challenging emotions and memories, anxiety therapists, and therapists in general, are trained to guide clients through these experiences in a supportive manner aiming to promote healing and growth.
- Long-Term Commitment: While some people may benefit from long term therapy to process their past or for continued support, others may find relief and progress through short term counseling for specific issues.
- Therapist Tells You What to Do: Therapists, including therapists for anxiety, actually do not tell their clients what to do; instead they help them process their narrative and provide guidance, support, and tools to help them understand their story, navigate their challenges, and ultimately make decisions on their own.
- Therapy is Only for “Crazy” People: It is important to dispel the myth that therapy’s only for “crazy” people as it perpetuates the stigma around mental health and therapy. Even the most sane person needs support from time to time. We aren’t meant to do life alone, and there are many therapists for anxiety available.
- Therapy is a Waste of Time: Some people may doubt the efficacy of therapy but many research studies have proven that psychotherapy has had a positive influence on people’s mental well being. It wouldn’t be this thing people talk about all the time if it weren’t transformative.
Our anxiety therapists in NYC are here to help!
Understanding anxiety about therapy is essential in normalizing and addressing these concerns. It’s fine to be anxious about therapy; anxiety is a natural response to the unknown. Therapy can evoke a range of emotions as individuals navigate their healing journey and decrease any therapy anxiety. Manage your anxiety with Uncover Mental Health Counseling. Our anxiety therapists in NYC can support you to get to the root of your anxiety and develop tools to manage your anxiety. Start your therapy journey now and find a therapist for anxiety. Follow these simple steps to get started:
- Contact us at Uncover Mental Health Counseling to schedule a complimentary consultation call.
- Meet with an anxiety therapist in NYC for your first session.
- Start receiving the support you need to manage your anxiety.
