REPORT ON PSYCH TALK: WHAT DOES A THERAPY SESSION LOOK LIKE?

- AARUSHI JAIN

Shivani and Sumati are back with their Psych Talk session and this time it is about busting myths, stereotypes and stigma around therapy with: Amruta Khare (Consulting Psychologist Remedial Education Therapist). So, what does a Therapy session really look like? This was held on Monday, 27th July, 2020 at 8.00 pm

Each session is, essentially, a problem-solving session. You describe your current situation, and your feelings about it, and then the therapist uses their expertise to assist you in trying to resolve that problem so you can move closer to having the life you wish to have.

Myth 1: Therapy is only for people with serious mental health issues.

People who have serious issues will take the help from therapists. Because they have don’t have any options. But going to them can make relax others.

Myth 2: Therapy is not necessary if you have best friends to talk to. Just talking and chit chatting to your family and friends can help you with your mental health issues.

 If you are blessed with caring, supportive family members and friends, by all means, share your feelings, goals, and dreams with those people. They are a big part of your support network, and their insights and encouragement can be very helpful. However, people who already know you might not always be completely objective when listening to you. As they have learnt and have practices. Sometimes they cannot understand the situation so we can to go therapists. So this is a myth which need to be changed.

 Myth 3: Therapists sit behind a desk and take notes while you sit/lie down on a couch.

This is a myth as they are listening to you doesn’t means they will only take the notes. Like a child who is studying and not getting any question so he/she tells the teacher about this so teacher will not make notes rather than she will make him solve the query. Same goes with the therapists.

Myth 4: All therapists want to do is to talk about your childhood / therapists blame the client's upbringing for their situation.

Not necessarily. Many people think that visiting a therapist means digging up old skeletons from your childhood, or talking about how awful your mother was, etc. That is a myth. What you talk about during a therapy session will largely depend on your unique situation and goals. And depending on your goals, you may not actually talk about your past that much. The focus of your therapy is as likely to be your present-day reality and the future that you wish to create.

Myth 5: Therapists can prescribe medication, they adopt techniques like shock therapy etc.

No therapists gives shock therapy. And earlier we didn’t have that knowledge now the government as recognized the importance. Everyone who went for this doesn’t mean that they have to under these therapies. So according to situation we observe and correct ways are provided to them.

 Myth 6: Therapy is very expensive.

In order to receive a license, therapists have to go through a lot of training and years before they can actually work. Lastly, counseling is expensive because there are many bills to pay: Rent and utilities. State licensure fees, each licensure requires annual fees to be paid. We feel that therapy is absolutely worth the cost. While the price might seem high, consider the fact that. But if you feel that it’s expensive so we have helpline also through which we can think it’s affordable.

Myth 7: Therapy sessions consist of only a Q-A form conversation.

Sometimes Q-A are important to know the exact situation but it is not every time. As it not true because it’s like other normal session. People has just make this like a hype. So we need to know it and make people aware about this as much as possible.

Of course, every therapist is different, every client is unique, and every therapist-client relationship is distinct as well—which means that there is no universal description of a therapy session. Some therapists employ dream interpretation in their work. 

Therapy is a valuable tool that can help you to solve problems, set and achieve goals, improve your communication skills, or teach you new ways to track your emotions and keep your stress levels in check. It can help you to build the life, career, and relationship that you want.