When you think of mental health counseling, you may have immediate thoughts that come to mind without even realizing it. “That’s not for me, my situation isn’t bad enough,” or “I don’t need help, I can handle this on my own.” If those are things you have felt or are feeling, you aren’t alone. Mental health counseling is one of the most stigmatized and misunderstood topics in our society. The school of thought surrounding therapy and getting help in general, keeps so many from receiving the support they truly need. It’s time to change that. Read on to find out why destigmatizing mental health counseling is necessary, and how we all can work together to do so.

What is mental health counseling?

Mental health counseling is a service in which you meet with a counselor or therapist to work through the struggles you are facing. For some, those struggles are mental challenges; depression, anxiety, substance abuse addiction, etc. For others, it is the situational battles and challenges in their life; loss, trauma, life transitions, and the upheaval of “normal”, etc. 

Regardless of what brought you there, mental health counseling facilitates healing and gives you the tools to better handle all that you are up against.

  The reality is, the human condition is painful. It is jam-packed with beauty and joy, and also hardship and pain. It would be incredibly easy if life was simple, straightforward and smooth-sailing. But life is inherently tumultuous and anything but easy. That is why mental health counseling exists.

In mental health counseling, you work with a trained and educated professional to navigate the hardships you are experiencing. There are many avenues in which those professionals help you; many styles of therapy, to ensure that there is a method to suit every individual and their needs. It’s a safe space for you to process your thoughts and feelings, with someone who is completely unbiased and confidential. Therapy is completely free of judgement. You can show up just as you are, share exactly what is on your heart and mind in a candid and unfiltered way. You will feel supported and heard, and then collaborate with your counselor on ways you can be better equipped to face your life in a healthier and more beneficial way.

Common misconceptions

It’s no secret that counseling has some really negative stigmas attached to it. It is truly one of the most misunderstood parts of our culture and it’s time to debunk some of the common misconceptions surrounding therapy. 

 Something is wrong with you. 

One of the most common misconceptions is that in order to need or seek counseling, something is wrong with you. So many believe that to need the help of a counselor, it means that you are broken or damaged. Many people put off going to counseling and deprive themselves of the help they really need, because they think that what they’re experiencing isn’t “bad enough” to need it.

The truth is that even the healthiest and happiest people, still need counseling or could, at the very least, benefit greatly from it. There are no requirements that need to be met for you to seek support. If you are struggling or facing mental health challenges, it is best to get the help and guidance available to you so that you can properly cope. Putting off therapy because you’re not “hurting enough”, only keeps you from finding true health and wellness. 

You aren’t strong enough.

 Another very common misconception about therapy, is that if you are seeking counseling you are weak and incapable of “handling” the trials in your life. In reality, some things that you experience in life are just too big to handle alone. The most wonderful thing is that, because of therapy, you don’t have to. 

Of course you are strong enough to tolerate the challenges you are faced with by yourself, but that doesn’t mean you should. Seeking the help of a counselor, for any reason, does not show weakness. In fact, it actually shows the exact opposite. It displays great strength and awareness to recognize that you need help and are ready to seek it out. Pursuing mental health counseling will give you the support you need to be even stronger, as well as offer ways to aide in your “handling” of life’s struggles.

If we all work together to speak up about these common misunderstandings surrounding mental health counseling, they can hopefully be replaced with the truth.   

It’s okay to not be okay. 

If only we could have that reminder painted all over our country, in bold letters for everyone to constantly see. It IS okay to not be okay. Because of how stigmatized mental illness and seeking help really is, so many people choose to ignore, dismiss, or push down their pain. The ugly truth is that if you try to ignore or stifle symptoms of mental challenges, they will not go away. And most likely, the difficulties will grow and metastasize in your mind and body. Mental health challenges can inevitably affect your entire life; work, relationships both domestic and not, and your ability to function on a day-to-day basis. The reach of the damage it can cause is truly immeasurable, which is why it is vital to seek and receive the proper support and treatment.

The first step of healing is acknowledging that you aren’t okay. Not only is that more than okay, it is normal. The next step after acknowledging it, is acting on it. That is where mental health counseling comes in. 

You are not the only one.

 In order to truly destigmatize mental health counseling in our culture, it is of the utmost importance to stress this fact; you are not alone. You are not alone in the challenges you are facing, and you are most certainly not alone seeking help. Just as stated earlier, everyone struggles at some point. Hardship is a non-negotiable part of life, and you can count on the fact that the people to your left and right have surely experienced struggles and deep pain. In fact, in 2019, it was estimated that around 40.2 million adults in the U.S. received mental health treatment or counseling at some time in the year prior. 

 Of course, in a culture that doesn’t speak about mental health nearly enough, it is easy to feel like you are the only one facing mental health challenges. That school of thought is harmful in that it breeds feelings of isolation, disparity and helplessness. The sooner we remove the stigmas surrounding this issue, the sooner people will feel comfortable speaking freely about their mental health. Once people are talking candidly and publicly, others will not only feel less alone and isolated, but they will feel comfortable to talk about it themselves. The chain reaction that can begin from speaking up about our struggles is truly profound. 

Because mental illness is a silent illness, it’s hard or even impossible to tell that someone is suffering deeply just by looking at them. And often, the person suffering is working tirelessly to hide their struggles behind a smile. By speaking up about your own challenges, you are giving a face to mental illness. Whether it’s through social media or just in your day-to-day life, using your platform and talking openly about your journey with mental health and counseling breathes life into it, humanizes it, and normalizes it.

Start the conversation.

The most important thing we can do to destigmatize mental health counseling is to start the conversation. Talk about mental health challenges. Talk about grief, loss, trauma, and addiction. Most importantly, talk about how you can work through those things and heal through mental health counseling. Mental health counseling is under-recognized and undervalued, and so much of that is a result of stigma and silence. We need to shed light on a subject that is more than deserving of our attention, and that begins with each of you in your daily life. 

If you are suffering with your mental health in anyway, the help and support of professionals is out there and waiting for you. All you have to do is find the courage to ask.

Here at Insight Northwest Counseling, we know that sometimes the hardest part is making that call. On this website we provide the option to schedule a consultation and even book your appointment from the comfort of your computer. Eliminating that barrier for you will hopefully alleviate any stress and dread you have surrounding taking that first step. Click here to book your consultation with us.

It’s time for us ALL to take action. Ask your friends, family and partners how they are really doing. And when they open up to you, truly listen. Give them your attention, grace and love. Talk about the benefits of seeking help from a professional and encourage those around you suffering to take the leap. 

Let’s start talking about it.