My Top #3 Myths Surrounding Anxiety Therapists and EMDR Therapy
So you’ve decided to take the next step and seek out an anxiety therapist! It can be a frustrating and scary step, and I want you to know that you are not alone in it. Perhaps, you know that you need a change in your life, and now you’re trying to determine how to find a therapist that is the right fit for you here in Tampa, or heck, just somewhere here in Florida!
Here are some common myths that I hear from people searching for an anxiety therapist or an EMDR therapist here in Tampa. I want to help debunk some of these myths as we try and ease this stigma that still surrounds mental health…because the truth is, we are all human, and we all have stuff we’re dealing with.
Myth: People searching for an anxiety therapist or a trauma therapist are going through a phase, are weak, or don’t have their lives together.
Truth: People searching for therapy may be going through a tough time and may also be ready for a change in their lives. We all experience the not-so-fun stuff life can throw our way (hello 2020!). And while the adage “when life hands you lemons” can be a great way to view things…sometimes we need some extra help, a space to vent, or an area where we can dig up the roots of toxicity that has haunted our family for generations. Either way, it’s a normal part of life.
Myth: All a trauma therapist does is listen to a person vent about their problems and take notes as the client sits on a couch and occasionally says, “how does that make you feel?”
Truth: While, sure, this can be a part of therapy, sometimes we need a space to vent about frustrations in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere. In truth, though, therapists go through A LOT of training to offer more than just venting sessions. Some therapists focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helping clients shift thoughts that impact their behavior and see how their thought process affects their actions. Other therapists are trained in EMDR therapy to help the brain literally alter perceptions. And some therapists focus on your family of origin, processing with you the way you grew up and how that impacted you today. All and all, it really depends on the modality of the clinician, but it typically is always more than just listening and asking how you feel about what talking about.
Myth: Going to EMDR therapy should resolve my issues in just a few sessions. If not, there must be something wrong with me, or the therapist is a “quack.”
Truth: While this is how therapy often works in TV shows or movies… the reality is, typically, our issues come from our experiences and the messages we’ve received from the world around us. EMDR therapy can feel a bit more accelerated than traditional talk therapy AND it may still take time. Remember, we’ve received these messages frequently for many years, and undoing these messages might take more than a few sessions. I believe you should start to see some shifts after a few sessions, and this should be discussed and CELEBRATED in therapy, as you are doing a lot of hard work. If you’re seeing a therapist currently and don’t plan to review what changes have happened since starting therapy, ask them. You might be surprised by what has shifted in a few weeks with consistency.
I hope this has been helpful as you are looking for the right anxiety therapist or EMDR therapist in Tampa. I know it can be difficult, and I know there’s a lot of stigma around mental health, so if you have questions, feel free to give me a call. I offer free 15 minute consultations to determine if we might be a good fit for each other, and if we’re not, I want to try and direct you to a person that might be a better fit.
