The truth about therapy…
I wanted to give more insight into how therapy works as I know it can be a frightening concept and that there are many stereotypes and misconceptions. I’ve previously done a blog post about managing your wellbeing at university; however, it was more general. Hopefully, this will enable you to properly understand therapy and why you should not be afraid to ask for it.
‘I have to be in crisis’
Therapy is not only exclusive to people who are in a crisis, is for anyone who feels they could use support. In fact, I would say that getting support before you are in a crisis is essential and can help with preventing you spiralling into worse condition.
‘If I say too much, I’ll get sectioned’
Everything you say to your therapist is confidential, so you do not have to worry about that. However, if your therapist believes that either you or someone else could be harmed then they may alert other people.
‘I’ll just waste a therapist’s time’
This is something that resonates with me as I was hesitant to seek help as I felt that my problems were not significant enough to talk to a therapist about. You must remember that we often say such to ourselves to downplay our emotions, but we are still worthy of help as people’s struggles do not need to be compared to our own.
‘It’s just talking’
There are a few different types of therapy that you can access here at Warwick. After a consultation, you will be able to decide on which type of therapy would best suit you.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
This type of therapy aims to change your thinking patterns in order to alter your behaviour. You may work on setting yourself goals and tasks between sessions.
Counselling
This type of talking therapy helps people understand the underlying causes of their problems. This could help you better understand your trauma and history that affects you today.
Group therapy
This involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time. Everyone is encouraged to share their experiences which can be helpful in creating a support network where you fell comfortable to freely talk about how you feel.
Find out more about the different types of therapy here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/types-of-therapy/
There are many other types of support available at Warwick, the Wellbeing masterclasses however, are an amazing alternative to therapy. These are workshops that are available to everyone and focus on a range work/life balance, sleep, and stress.
I hope this blog has clarified that getting therapy doesn’t make you ‘crazy’, and such stigma is damaging. Remember that therapy should work around you and for you as it is person-centered. Therefore, it is important to be open-minded in finding the best solution for you.
