Is Therapy Right for You? Breaking the Myths and Finding Clarity

Despite increasing awareness, many misconceptions about therapy persist, making it harder for people to seek support. These myths often come from cultural messages that emphasize going it alone over leaning on each other, dismissing the wisdom of emotions, and making us feel disconnected from our natural capacity for healing. But therapy, when rooted in relational safety and embodied awareness, can help us come home to ourselves, our communities, and the world around us—like a tree sinking its roots deep into nourishing soil.

Here, we gently challenge common myths about therapy and offer a more expansive, relational perspective:

• Myth: Therapy is only for people in crisis. 

  While therapy can absolutely be a source of support in hard times, it’s also a space for deepening self-understanding, strengthening relationships, and navigating life with more ease. Healing is not just about mending wounds; it’s also about growth—like a river carving its path through the landscape, shaping new ways of being over time. Reaching out is an act of trust in yourself, not a sign that something is "wrong" with you.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy isn’t common.

  More and more people are reclaiming therapy as a space for reflection, nervous system co-regulation, and relational healing. Many of us have been taught to carry our struggles alone, but healing has always been communal. Like the mycelial networks beneath a forest, we are interconnected—our healing ripples out into the world, nourishing those around us. The growing accessibility of therapy, including virtual options, means more people can access the support they deserve.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy should provide immediate solutions.

  Healing isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about creating enough safety and trust for real transformation to unfold. Just as seasons shift gradually, with trees slowly shedding old leaves to make space for new growth, deep change takes time. While you might have moments of clarity early on, the deeper shifts happen through consistent, compassionate attention to your patterns, emotions, and relational wounds. Therapy is about being with yourself, not fixing yourself.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy is just talking. 

  Therapy is more than words—it’s an experience. Somatic and relational approaches bring in body awareness, nervous system regulation, and deep listening to what is alive within you. Healing happens not just through understanding but through embodied shifts—like learning to stand firm in a strong wind, feeling rooted and steady in the present moment.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy is just venting. 

  Sharing your feelings is part of therapy, but it’s not the whole picture. A therapist is not just a listener but a co-regulator—someone who helps you notice patterns, connect with your body’s wisdom, and make sense of how past experiences shape your present reality. Like a river guided by the land, therapy offers gentle support to help you find your way.

  
  

• Myth: Seeking therapy means you are weak. 

  The idea that we must "handle things alone" comes from cultural conditioning that prioritizes independence over interdependence. But as humans, we are wired for connection. Seeking support is an act of courage, not weakness. Just as plants turn toward the sun for nourishment, we, too, grow in relationship.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy follows a rigid formula. 

  There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Every person’s journey is unique, and therapy should meet you where you are. Some people find healing through somatic work, others through storytelling, relational repair, expressive arts, or mindfulness. Like water shaping itself to the landscape, therapy adapts to you.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy is for people who can’t help themselves. 

  Therapy isn’t about helplessness—it’s about growth. It’s for people who want to deepen their self-awareness, nurture their relationships, and live with more ease and authenticity. Healing isn’t about going it alone; it’s about being in relationship—with yourself, your emotions, your nervous system, and the people who support you. Like a tree supported by an ecosystem of roots, fungi, and soil, we thrive in connection.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy is too expensive to be accessible. 

  Money can be a real barrier, but there are often options. Many therapists offer sliding-scale rates, community-based support, or lower-cost options. Some organizations provide reduced-fee or pro bono therapy, and online therapy has made care more affordable in some cases. If finances are a concern, it’s always okay to ask about available options.

  
  

• Myth: Therapy is only for mental illness.

  Therapy is about so much more than diagnoses. It’s a space to explore personal growth, identity, creativity, and life transitions. Many people seek therapy to strengthen relationships, process cultural or intergenerational trauma, or reconnect with their intuition and inner wisdom—like tending a garden, and nurturing the parts of ourselves that need care and attention.

  
  

• Myth: You need to have a clear goal before starting therapy.

  You don’t have to know exactly what you want to work on to begin. Therapy is a space to slow down, get curious, and make sense of what feels unclear or unresolved. The process itself helps bring clarity, much like the way a path through the forest reveals itself as you walk it.

  
  

• Myth: If therapy works, you shouldn’t need it for long. 

  Healing is not a race. Some people find short-term therapy helpful for a specific challenge, while others engage in longer-term therapy for deeper exploration. Your journey is yours to shape, and just like a tree growing at its own pace, there’s no "right" length of time for therapy.

  
  

• Myth: A therapist will tell you what to do.

  Therapists don’t give orders or prescribe life choices. Instead, they offer reflection, perspective, and tools to help you access your own wisdom and make choices that align with your values. You are always the expert on your own life—like a river following its own course, shaped by the land but never forced.

  
  

Therapy is a space of permission—permission to feel, to explore, to connect, and to heal in your own way, in your own time. At Morran Counselling Therapy, we strive to create a warm, relational space where you are welcomed just as you are.

If you are considering therapy, contact Danielle at 403-875-9403 or book a complimentary 15-minute consultation online to explore whether this space feels right for you.