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DALLAS PSYCHOTHERAPIST: MYTHS ABOUT PSYCHOTHERAPYUnfortunately, as psychotherapy continues to gain popularity, there is an ever-increasing body of misinformation, myths and faulty assumptions building up around the therapeutic process. Hollywood, television and lay periodicals are notorious for their misrepresentation of psychological treatment. With this in mind, the following are some common misconceptions regarding our Dallas mental health professionals, as well as therapy and psychology in general:
Therapy is for "crazy" people. One of the most popular misconceptions regarding psychotherapy is that it is intended primarily for individuals who suffer from severe mental problems. While these individuals can benefit from seeing a Dallas psychotherapist, they are by no means the only ones. In fact, individuals with more severe problems are often the most resistant to the therapy process. As has been said, if you want to escape from prison, the first step is realizing you are in prison. One of the primary emphases of Dallas Psychotherapy Center is the treatment of high-functioning, relatively well-adjusted individuals who are looking to better understand and escape the various unwanted habits and limits with which they "imprison" themselves in their day-to-day lives. In reality, there are few individuals who could not benefit from a better understanding of the intricate workings of their own mind and personality. Many individuals with fairly subtle issues use the psychotherapy provided by our Dallas therapists to improve intimate relationships and quality of life, as well as to more effectively realize other personal goals.
Therapy is all about New Age "fluff" and "touchy-feely" platitudes. Therapy is, first and foremost, a lot of hard worka process more akin to going to the gym than it is going to the spa. Anyone that pursues psychotherapy with sincere commitment and a desire to change is likely to discover many unpleasant aspects of his or her personality along the way. To this end, it should be emphasized that therapy is not for people who simply want to sweep under the rug these problematic aspects of the self. Although positive thinking and self-acceptance are essential to the therapeutic process, so is honesty, integrity and direct self-confrontation. It could be said that the more one genuinely struggles to get at the core truth of the self, no matter how difficult certain aspects of that journey are likely to be, the more one ultimately feels at ease in the world. It takes courage to honestly examine your personality without automatically retreating into the habitual defenses and protective mechanisms that help you avoid unwanted aspects of yourself from day-today. Therapy requires a skillful and gradual examination and letting go of such defensive mechanisms, so that you experience more and more of your real, authentic self throughout every aspect of your life.
Although it is true that psychotherapy sometimes encourages the client to explore early experiences, including material surrounding one's parents, this process is often misrepresented. The goal is not to simply recall various "mistakes" made by the parents in early childhood, nor is it to indulge in self-righteous blaming and adopting the role of the "victim." Rather, the client explores how early experiences shaped certain adult habits of thinking, feeling and doing so that he or she can consciously and intentionally alter these unwanted habits. Regardless of the role of the parents early on, it is entirely up to the client to correct any developmental conflicts in the Here and Now. The therapist helps the client recognize, validate and re-examine early feelings without getting lost in them. The goal is actually to become less "stuck" in one's past so that you are increasingly present in the immediate, moment-to-moment flow of adult life. To this end, psychotherapy is not about simply learning a new language, learning news ways to describe and indulge in one's past. Rather, it is about moving beyond past conflicts and wounds, taking personal, adult responsibility for one's own happiness and daily experience.
The responsibility for authentic personal change and growth lies
primarily with the client. The therapist's primary role is to facilitate
the client's intimate examination of him or herself. Contrary to popular
misunderstanding, there are no clear and simple psychological diagnoses.
To say that someone is "depressed," "obsessive," etc., does
little more than describe the symptoms with which he or she is currently suffering. The client must work closely with the therapist to
understand how certain personality patterns were developed, and learn to
directly and realistically change those patterns when appropriate. Working with a psychotherapist
can be compared to working with a physical trainer. Although that trainer can
provide an inspirational structure for change, helping the client to identify
specific goals and assess bad habits, it is always up to the client to make use
of these tools in the most effective way. If psychotherapy is to produce lasting growth and significant
changes, there must be a genuinely cooperative focus and dedication to change shared
by both therapist and
client.
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