• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Counseling | Psychotherapy | NYC | Cohesive Therapy NYC

Counseling | Psychotherapy | NYC | Cohesive Therapy NYC

Counseling Psychotherapy NYC

  • Specialties
    • Therapy for Anxiety
      • Therapy for Anxiety
      • Social Anxiety
      • Stress Management
    • Trauma and PTSD
      • Trauma and PTSD
      • Childhood Emotional Neglect
      • Medical PSTD
    • Self-Growth and Improvement
      • Self-Growth and Improvement
      • Therapy for Self-Esteem
      • Therapy for High Achievers
      • Therapy for Life Transitions
    • Chronic Illness
      • Managing Chronic Illness
      • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
      • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
    • Couples & Interpersonal Relationships
  • Services
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Mind-Body Connection For Trauma and Anxiety
    • Exposure Therapy
    • Brainspotting
    • Remote/Online Therapy Sessions
    • For Therapists: Consultations with Karen
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Your Therapists
      • Danielle DiCamillo, LCSW
      • Rachel Kaplan, LCSW
      • Frank Grazioli, LCSW
      • Karen Conlon, LCSW CCATP Clinical Director
    • Location
    • In The Media
    • Office Staff
    • Employee Resources
    • Join Our Team
    • Blog
  • FAQs
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Self-Growth and Improvement / 3 Common Therapy Myths

3 Common Therapy Myths

December 3, 2020 by Karen Conlon, LCSW and Rachel Kaplan, LCSW

Blog Post - 3 Common Misconceptions About Therapy

The topic of therapy has historically been linked to stigma in our society. People were often uncomfortable seeking out or even discussing therapy because of the stigma attached to it. What it “means” to be in therapy. As a result, there are still some fairly big misconceptions about therapy. We at Cohesive Therapy NYC want to bring these important discussions to the forefront. 

Here are 3 of the most common misconceptions about therapy. We hope these will help you to feel more comfortable reaching out and getting the help you deserve.

Myth #1: It’s Just Like Talking to Your Friend

Friends listen to and support you, but they aren’t equipped to offer real solutions. Therapists, on the other hand, are uniquely qualified to help you by offering more than just good advice.

Therapists are trained to have a deeper understanding of human nature and the way the brain works. 

They can help you to recognize your own behavioral and thinking patterns. They can offer tools so that you can better manage the challenges in your life. 

Therapy can lead you to a fresh perspective on the events of your life and the choices you make. It can teach you to address your thoughts in a different way. Therapy is a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. In therapy, you can build on your existing strengths, while learning new ways to cope with your life stressors.

Having a strong support system of friends/family who you can talk to is incredibly beneficial. Therapy is about processing your experiences while also enhancing the way you perceive and interact with the world. 

Even when we have supportive people in our lives, many of us worry about being a “burden”. We may have difficulty opening up or talking about our problems. But, therapy is confidential. Your therapist’s only interest/goal is to help you improve yourself and overcome your challenges. Therefore, it is generally easier opening up to them.

Myth #2: Therapy is About Blaming Your Parents for Problems or Dwelling on the Past

One of the common misconceptions about therapy is that it’s just 45-60 minutes each week spent blaming parents for all their problems. Others may believe it focuses too much on past experiences that aren’t doing anything to help present problems.

The reality is that therapy isn’t about playing the blame game. However, therapists do have to look at a client’s history to get a clear picture of their experiences and patterns. While your past does not define you, it does give us a roadmap of how you got here, how your self-perceptions were created, and a basis for how to learn and move forward from those internalized beliefs that may not even be yours, to begin with! How’s that for something to dig into further?

Many people new to therapy may not want to spend any time “wallowing in the past,”. They must understand, however, that the first phase of therapy is to gather information. A therapist asks questions about your history to understand the way you cope, think, perceive, and interact with your environment. 

It is very tempting to first target symptoms and focus on solutions, this part of the therapy process is incredibly important and will enhance your success in more solution-focused therapy.  

Past experiences profoundly impact our personalities, the way we think, and how we react to stressors. Therefore, it is important for you to delve into your history to develop a better understanding of how your primary caregivers and experiences in childhood impact you in adulthood. 

Myth #3: You’ll Start to Feel Better Immediately

Many people fall into the common misconception when they’re new to therapy that they’ll be cured after their first visit.

They then make the mistake of quitting when they don’t feel better after a few sessions. The truth is, it will take a few sessions just to tell your story and to start developing a relationship and a sense of trust with your therapist. Therapy shouldn’t be thought of as a quick fix, but instead a process that is unique to each individual. 

Sometimes discussing your problems and processing your experiences may make you feel more anxious or stressed in the short term. It can be really challenging to delve deeper into what you are going through and it takes hard work to try to make change in your life. But it is important to understand that while the process doesn’t always feel good, it will be completely worthwhile in the end.


Can therapy really help?

Absolutely. Get access to our FREE resources, so you can begin the healing process and start to move forward.

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.


    About the author(s)

    Karen Conlon, LCSW

    Karen is the founder and Clinical Director of Cohesive Therapy NYC. She earned a Masters in Social Work from New York University and has extensive training in Hypnosis, Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brainspotting, and DGBI. She is a member of the Institute of Certified Anxiety Treatment Professionals, The Rome Foundation, the National Association of Social Workers, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, and the American Social of Clinical Hypnosis.

    Rachel Kaplan, LCSW

    Rachel earned a Masters in Social Work from New York University, as well as certifications in Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Palliative and End of Life Care. Her extensive experience with chronic illness has allowed her to understand how empathy and support show up in many different ways, and how illness can affect many different facets of life.

    About Cohesive Therapy NYC

    At Cohesive Therapy NYC, we believe that you have an immense amount of inner strength and resilience, even if it is yet to be discovered. Cohesive Therapy NYC is a private group psychotherapy practice in New York City that focuses on treating adults who struggle with Anxiety, Trauma, Chronic Illness, and the adult impact of Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN). Cohesive Therapy NYC therapists see clients all throughout New York State (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, and statewide) using online therapy and are also available for in-person visits in their NYC offices, located at 59 East 54th Street, New York, NY 10022. We specialize in helping people who are dealing with anxiety, relationship issues, chronic illness, and digestive and adult trauma related to childhood family dynamics. We all deserve a chance to be well and have support.

    Filed Under: Self-Growth and Improvement

    Have questions about weekly session rates and what to expect in therapy?

    Contact us today to set up a free 20-minute video consultation.


    Happily serving clients in New York and New Jersey.


    Footer

    Location

    59 East 54th Street, Suite 92

    New York, NY 10022

    Contact Info

    (347) 704-0632 info@cohesivetherapynyc.com
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Specialties

    • Anxiety
    • Trauma and PTSD
    • Self-Growth and Improvement
    • Chronic Illness

    Therapists

    • Danielle DiCamillo, LCSW
    • Rachel Kaplan, LCSW
    • Frank Grazioli, LCSW

    Services

    • Exposure Therapy
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Mind-Body Connection For Trauma and Anxiety
    • Remote/Online Therapy Sessions
    • Brainspotting
    • Clinical Consultation with Karen
    The information included on this website is solely for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for health care or medical treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Do not rely on any of the information for diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any questions, you should contact your health care provider. If you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 immediately.

    Copyright © 2021 · Cohesive Therapy NYC · Services Provided by Karen Conlon Practice LCSW PLLC