She \u2015 like most mental health professionals \u2015 doesn\u2019t see it that way, however. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes courage to reflect honestly on your life, your patterns and your relationships,\u201d Varma said. \u201cIn my experience, the people who do that work are some of the bravest people I know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Misconception: Therapy is only for extreme or acute emotional times.<\/p>\n
Another common misconception is that you should only seek therapy in times of extreme distress or a spiral. <\/p>\n
\u201cMany people come through my door for the first time immediately following a loss or major life disruption like a breakup,\u201d said psychotherapist Meg Gitlin<\/a>. \u201cThis is OK and is often a motivating factor for seeking help. However, there are people who come to therapy when they have \u2018hit rock bottom\u2019 emotionally and then disappear when things are good until the next fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Although people can seek therapy intermittently or to address short-term issues, Gitlin finds the most successful therapy experiences are not defined solely by catastrophic events. <\/p>\n \u201cMy experience as a therapist tells me that while therapy can feel particularly helpful during crisis management, people are actually able to understand and process much more when things are going well for them,\u201d she said. \u201cI would encourage people to stick with therapy when things calm down, and they can approach their issues from a thoughtful non-alarmist stance.\u201d<\/p>\n Misconception: There will be a big epiphany moment.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother misconception is that therapy always has to involve dramatic breakthroughs,\u201d Varma said. \u201cSometimes the work is quieter. Simply bringing problems into the open, gaining insight, increasing awareness and trusting your own intelligence to manage challenges more effectively can be deeply meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n She noted that a core goal of therapy is to build flexibility in how you think, relate to others and respond to stress. The process can help you understand different people\u2019s perspectives, strengthen self-compassion and empathy, and learn healthier ways to cope with difficulties, express emotions and deepen relationships.<\/p>\n Fiordaliso via Getty Images<\/p>\n Many people come into therapy with misconceptions about how quickly the process unfolds. <\/p>\n \u201cFinding out how to improve our mental state and reduce our suffering is a process,\u201d said therapist Nina Tomkiewicz<\/a>. \u201cLife is made up of small moments, so \u2018small wins\u2019 are the necessary building blocks of \u2018big change.\u2019 I always love celebrating small wins with my clients \u2015 I think this is something we just aren\u2019t taught to do in this society. We see big, sweeping accomplishments celebrated in the media, and we think that\u2019s how our life should go.\u201d<\/p>\n But what\u2019s more important are the small moments when you start to feel like you get it and see improvements that show what you\u2019re doing is working. <\/p>\n Misconception: Medication can replace the need for therapy.<\/p>\n \u201cMany clients believe that if they begin taking medication, their problems will be resolved,\u201d said Jill Lamar<\/a>, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks. \u201cYes, medication in certain circumstances can be a helpful part of treatment, and often those clients feel better with it. But evidence shows that medication plus talk therapy is the combination that provides the best chance of success.\u201d<\/p>\n She noted that therapists want to see their clients feel better, and medication can be a great partner in treatment. <\/p>\n \u201cTalk therapy provides an opportunity to discover and change destructive attitudes and behaviors that drive the negative feelings, and can provide resolution as opposed to merely changing one\u2019s brain chemistry,\u201d Lamar said.<\/p>\n Misconception: You should feel change quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes time for a person to learn how to best use the therapy space,\u201d Tomkiewicz said. \u201cEspecially if you\u2019ve never been to see a therapist before, you shouldn\u2019t expect to know exactly what to do or how to be or what to share.\u201d<\/p>\n She emphasized that people make lots of mistakes<\/a> and take time to figure things out at the beginning of their therapy journeys. <\/p>\n \u201cIn the beginning, it\u2019s OK to make mistakes and figure things out,\u201d Tomkiewicz said. \u201cI\u2019ve worked with clients before who came to our initial sessions without knowing what to talk about or where to begin. But over time, they became more aware of the exact topics they wanted to bring into the therapy space to review and change.\u201d<\/p>\n Over time, she added, people often become more empowered with their change process \u2015 noticing problems during the week, taking the steps they can and then bringing the rest to sessions to figure it out with their therapist. <\/p>\n \u201cWe also need to give ourselves the grace to practice figuring out how to be satisfied with our therapy sessions,\u201d Tomkiewicz said.<\/p>\n Varma similarly advised against rushing the therapy process or giving up too quickly. <\/p>\n \u201cI encourage people to read a therapist\u2019s bio, see whether their approach resonates and check whether they specialize in what you are actually seeking help for \u2015 whether that is couples or family work, anxiety, depression, OCD, substance use, eating disorders or another concern,\u201d Varma said. \u201cIt is also completely appropriate to ask therapists questions about their training and approach, and to use the first one or two sessions simply to see if the fit feels right.\u201d<\/p>\n Misconception: Everything will focus on your childhood. <\/p>\n \u201cAnother misconception about therapy is that most of the work will be surrounding a client\u2019s childhood,\u201d Gitlin said. \u201cWhile it\u2019s important to me to obtain and consider a complete oral history about a client\u2019s upbringing, I think therapy is just as effectively focused on the present and future of the client.\u201d<\/p>\n While exploring early experiences can be meaningful, many therapists stress that the work doesn\u2019t stop there.<\/p>\n \u201cThis means talking about what things would look like presently if the client was able to make some changes,\u201d Gitlin said. \u201cI also think it\u2019s important to cultivate hope about the future, and take specific measurable steps to get the client there.\u201d<\/p>\n Misconception: Therapy provides a simple \u2018fix.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes therapy is viewed idealistically, as something that is going to solve all their problems,\u201d said Caitlyn Oscarson<\/a>, a licensed marriage and family therapist. \u201cTherapy is all about noticing what\u2019s not working, discovering the common themes and making small steps toward new patterns.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Many](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/699ca014150000fb1e019766.jpeg\")
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