The Stigma Surrounding Counseling
Many couples shy away from counseling for a number of reasons and deny themselves much needed help. Many couples – or one party within the couple – feel that they don’t want to “air their dirty laundry” – that their private life should be just that – private.
Others don’t want to go through marriage counseling simply because they don’t know what to expect. They don’t understand some of the basics about therapy and fear their “head will be shrunk” or somehow, they will be powerless to the therapist, who they deem “in charge.”
Deciding to enter counseling is an admission of a very real problem, which can be difficult as well. Sometimes people feel ashamed. They feel as if they are the only couple experiencing problems. Our media portrayal doesn’t help in this regard either: couples always seem so happen on TV, don’t they?
Problems in a marriage are just that: problems, many times with very real and practical solutions. Often couples leave counseling wondering why they hadn’t done it earlier. A third party perspective is often desperately needed. Once guidance is given, couples have very pragmatic steps they can take in order to better themselves. Their troubles didn’t seem so large and looming after all. It’s interesting – most of us have little difficulty going to the dentist or needing the help of a plumber…or any other specialist. Therapy still has a stigma surrounding it – one that isn’t particularly helpful. Maybe it’s time to revisit our views on therapy and recognize it for the simple help it can offer. The change starts with you.
Related Posts
- Marriage Counseling – Breaking the Stigma Trap
- Marital Counseling – Taking the Stigma Out of the Equation
- Pre-Marital Counseling Begins With Personal Counseling
- Marriage Counseling to Aid Chronic Anxiety
- The “Turnaround Time” in Marriage Counseling
