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Common Misconceptions About Therapy According to Therapists
Mental health, while gaining ground as a more frequent topic of conversation today than in years past, remains a charged topic for many. Mental health has captured the attention of the media and the public, but still, myths persist around affordability, stigma for those seeking care, and the actual lived experience of those who have sought treatment. Experts address these myths below, helping to shine some much-needed light on all-too-common misconceptions.
Myth One: Mental Health Care is too Costly
Dr. Connor Sheehy with The Rx Advocates has enabled him to provide care for many patients who have experienced financial challenges. The Rx Advocates works on behalf of patients to help make their prescriptions more accessible, placing better mental health in reach.
Whereas previously, insurance companies may have neglected to cover mental health programs, many treatment centers have made it easier to quickly verify coverage. Dr. Nataliya Vorobyeva, Neuroscientist and Chief Science & Innovation Officer at States of Mind, has prioritized this process, with the core underlying belief that “treatment should be available to anyone in need of care.”
Still, not everyone who needs care has insurance. For Melissa Legere, LMFT, and COO of California Behavioral Health, addressing this gap has been a key mission. Their mission is to provide transparency and accessibility to patients so that financial issues do not hinder recovery.
Myth Two: Stigma Associated with Mental Health Care
Many people report feeling embarrassed or ashamed when seeking help with mental health issues or recovery. While every day the results of mental health crises in the U.S. and elsewhere are perfectly visible, whether on the news or simply in our environment, it can be difficult to reach out for help due to stigma. Yet, Dr. Sanjai Thankachen relays a different, more hopeful statistic. One that reveals an army, over 22 million strong, that is in recovery from addiction.
Dr. Michael Chichak, a physician with MEDvidi, would likely have much to say on the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health discussions. Greater education and more open discussions about various mental disorders can go a long way to earlier detection and more effective treatments.
For Dr. Michael S. Valdez, treating mental health is deeply personal. Having grappled with issues of substance abuse while in school, he empathizes with his patients and can understand why they might be reluctant to address mental health problems. But in sharing his struggles, Dr. Valdez is uniquely positioned to offer hope as well.
Myth Three: Actual Experience Versus Pop Culture Fiction
Rather than being relegated to the psychiatrist’s chaise in a dimly-lit room, mental health professionals today want to take a comprehensive approach that encompasses all aspects of a person’s life, long after they’ve left the office. Dr. Lori Bohn emphasizes the importance of an “informed holistic approach to treatment” that allows a partnership between practitioner and patient.
Dr. Clint Salo with The Grove Recovery Community believes in a deeply personal approach. Each individual has their own stories, their own experiences, their own challenges, and their own strengths. Treating mental health can vary greatly person to person, despite how it may have been depicted in popular narratives.
Lastly, treatment centers themselves are oftentimes vastly different than how they may be depicted in the media. Clinical Director at Golden Road Recovery, Jason Aaronson, LMFT, CATC-IV, has sought to lead in an environment that provides safety, comfort, and healing in a home-like residential style facility that is conducive to healing.
Challenges are indeed likely to remain, even as the push for greater understanding grows stronger. But despite these misconceptions, providers continue to give greater clarity, break down stigma, and offer hope to those in need.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Common Misconceptions About Therapy According to Therapists
Common Misconceptions About Therapy According to Therapists
Mental health, while gaining ground as a more frequent topic of conversation today than in years past, remains a charged topic for many. Mental health has captured the attention of the media and the public, but still, myths persist around affordability, stigma for those seeking care, and the actual lived experience of those who have sought treatment. Experts address these myths below, helping to shine some much-needed light on all-too-common misconceptions.
Myth One: Mental Health Care is too Costly
Dr. Connor Sheehy with The Rx Advocates has enabled him to provide care for many patients who have experienced financial challenges. The Rx Advocates works on behalf of patients to help make their prescriptions more accessible, placing better mental health in reach.
Whereas previously, insurance companies may have neglected to cover mental health programs, many treatment centers have made it easier to quickly verify coverage. Dr. Nataliya Vorobyeva, Neuroscientist and Chief Science & Innovation Officer at States of Mind, has prioritized this process, with the core underlying belief that “treatment should be available to anyone in need of care.”
Still, not everyone who needs care has insurance. For Melissa Legere, LMFT, and COO of California Behavioral Health, addressing this gap has been a key mission. Their mission is to provide transparency and accessibility to patients so that financial issues do not hinder recovery.
Myth Two: Stigma Associated with Mental Health Care
Many people report feeling embarrassed or ashamed when seeking help with mental health issues or recovery. While every day the results of mental health crises in the U.S. and elsewhere are perfectly visible, whether on the news or simply in our environment, it can be difficult to reach out for help due to stigma. Yet, Dr. Sanjai Thankachen relays a different, more hopeful statistic. One that reveals an army, over 22 million strong, that is in recovery from addiction.
Dr. Michael Chichak, a physician with MEDvidi, would likely have much to say on the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health discussions. Greater education and more open discussions about various mental disorders can go a long way to earlier detection and more effective treatments.
For Dr. Michael S. Valdez, treating mental health is deeply personal. Having grappled with issues of substance abuse while in school, he empathizes with his patients and can understand why they might be reluctant to address mental health problems. But in sharing his struggles, Dr. Valdez is uniquely positioned to offer hope as well.
Myth Three: Actual Experience Versus Pop Culture Fiction
Rather than being relegated to the psychiatrist’s chaise in a dimly-lit room, mental health professionals today want to take a comprehensive approach that encompasses all aspects of a person’s life, long after they’ve left the office. Dr. Lori Bohn emphasizes the importance of an “informed holistic approach to treatment” that allows a partnership between practitioner and patient.
Dr. Clint Salo with The Grove Recovery Community believes in a deeply personal approach. Each individual has their own stories, their own experiences, their own challenges, and their own strengths. Treating mental health can vary greatly person to person, despite how it may have been depicted in popular narratives.
Lastly, treatment centers themselves are oftentimes vastly different than how they may be depicted in the media. Clinical Director at Golden Road Recovery, Jason Aaronson, LMFT, CATC-IV, has sought to lead in an environment that provides safety, comfort, and healing in a home-like residential style facility that is conducive to healing.
Challenges are indeed likely to remain, even as the push for greater understanding grows stronger. But despite these misconceptions, providers continue to give greater clarity, break down stigma, and offer hope to those in need.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.
Members of the editorial staff of San Diego Reader were not involved in the creation of this content.