--- title: "Stigma of therapy | Clearing the myths" entity: "blog" canonical_url: "https://www.bodycotoronto.com/blog/stigma-of-therapy" markdown_url: "https://www.bodycotoronto.com/llms/blog/stigma-of-therapy" lastmod: "2025-02-24T21:25:00.000Z" --- One of the first questions I ask my clients when we start working together is what their impression of therapy is. Often our ideas and understanding of therapy is informed by our environment, that is what are families and friends say and think about therapy and what we have been exposed to in mainstream media and social media outlets. Our social location also Informs our willingness to seek therapy or be able to access and afford it. We are all made up of a combination of factors such our gender, race, social class, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, and geographic location. Our beliefs and experiences are unique to our idea of what help feels like. Some of us feel a sense of shame or embarrassment of the idea, while others feel a sense of relief in working with a trained professional who is committed to respecting their privacy and confidentiality. In my practice, clients come referred or recommended and generally their impressions are positive. However, other clients arrive to this decision because they do not feel equipped to confront their mental health struggles on their own and feel it is a last resort. I also have seen new clients who are curious about the process but unclear about their needs. The important thing is, I always meet my clients where they are at. I understand they may hold expectations or reservations and I work with this, not against it. How I support clients who are one foot in one foot out is by clarifying the process and creating a space for them to ask questions and offer feedback as we work in collaboration. Here are a few myths we can clear up: Myth # 1: We go to therapy to “fix ourselves”, and we need therapy because we are “crazy” Truth: The words “fix” and “crazy” represent past oppressive beliefs and assumptions about mental health and who was mentally unwell. What we understand now is therapy is a space to learn how to manage our emotions, change our patterns of thinking and feeling and replace unproductive behaviours with new and supportive ones. Therefore, eliminating these words from our vocabulary will help us see the potential we all possess. Myth # 2: Seeking help shows I am weak and unable to solve my own problems. Truth: Strength is the ability to show vulnerability. Trying to uphold the image of being “strong” hinders our ability to be honest and open to receiving support. I always hold the space to validate and unconditionally accept the emotions a client chooses to express. It is through the expression of thoughts and emotions that a client can gain insight, self awareness, and clarity on how to best approach their problems. Myth #3: All you do in therapy talk about your childhood Truth: The starting point is not a client’s childhood. Instead, the focus is on improving current functioning and relieving emotional suffering occurring in the present. Discussions about one’s family of origin and childhood evolve naturally, such as understanding how clients’ experiences and beliefs inform how they show up today. Myth #4: Once I start therapy, I will depend on it forever Truth: Therapy takes shape overtime, sometimes clients come for acute reasons which get resolved, other times frequency of session change as the therapeutic relationship is formed. I always discuss and consider clients goals, expectations and financial limitations when recommending frequency of sessions and a course of action. Myth #5: I tried therapy once and it did not work Truth: I understand that not all clients have positive associations with therapy and if they had a negative experience, I like to learn more about it. I also assess client’s expectations, personal motivation, and readiness for change. I am open and honest about my scope of practice and my areas of specialization. The best thing we can do for our clients is to be upfront about our own abilities and approach. I encourage my clients to offer feedback, to exercise their “no” if they feel uncomfortable or hesitant about a method or technique. Lastly, I like to be a source of resource for other approaches, methods and health practitioners that may compliment or suit the clients needs best. Paula Fernandez Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist Paula obtained a Social Service Worker diploma from Humber College and a Bachelor of Social Work (honours) from York University. Paula started her career in Social Work in 2003, and participated in organizational work supporting women against violence, refugees, and members from marginalized populations, focusing on immigration settlement and outreach. Paula is a warm and approachable Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist who treats her clients like human beings and not patients. Originally from Mexico, Paula takes a very integrated approach and believes our bodies hold the wisdom to help us heal. Paula is enthusiastic about therapy and personal growth, and strongly advocates for her clients to live the life that they want to live. Paula is available for virtual appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can book your appointment with her [here](https://bodyco.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/55) . If you have enjoyed this blog and would like to learn more about health and wellness from our team of expert practitioners, follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bodycotoronto/) .