1. ONLY CRAZY PEOPLE GO TO THERAPY

Anyone can benefit from therapy; wise people seek it out with confidence. In the past, only very disturbed individuals received therapy, however, for the last 20 years more and more "normal" people have benefited enormously from therapy. Life is hard, and therapy can provide you with the tools to handle difficulties in a more positive, constructive, conscious manner.

2. THERAPY GROUPS ARE TOUCHY-FEELY

Contemporary therapy groups respect personal boundaries and promote the integrity of limits and privacy.

3. YOU HAVE TO BE NEAR DIVORCE TO GO TO COUPLES THERAPY

Those marriages least likely to divorce are often those whose partners have sought out therapy from time to time all along. Unfortunately, too many couples do wait until the situation has gotten so bad that one or both parties is contemplating divorce.

4. CHILDREN DON'T NEED THERAPY

Children are as deeply affected by the events in their lives as adults are, sometimes even more so, given how little control they have in their lives. Children who are sad, irritable, overanxious, or hyperactive tend to make much better adjustments to life when they can have the rich benefits of child play therapy.

5. A THERAPIST WITH A PH.D. IS MORE SKILLED THAN AN MFT

A therapist with a PhD may have more education than someone with a Master's Degree, however clinical skills are created through a combination of education, training and experience. It is most important to find a therapist that you trust and feel comfortable with, regardless of educational background.

6. A THERAPIST WILL TURN ME AGAINST MY FAMILY

A therapist can help you discover ways to greatly enhance your relationships with your family members, and to feel more confident about how you experience yourself within your family.

7. MARITAL PROBLEMS CAN ONLY BE WORKED ON AS A COUPLE

Often working with just one person in a couple tends to improve the marital relationship for both parties. When one person grows, the entire family system is affected.

8. I'M TOO OLD FOR THERAPY

Until you are too old to breathe, it's not too late to benefit from therapy. Seeking therapy out in one's later years often leads to healing wounds inflicted long ago.

9. I'M A PERSON OF FAITH. I DON'T NEED THERAPY

Do you need a dentist? A physician? A plumber? An auto mechanic? Therapists are trained to help you put your faith to work to repair psychological cavities and wounds, just as plumbers and mechanics fix stopped drains and blown gaskets. For many clients, therapy is a very spiritual experience and one's faith is often deepened in the process of learning about oneself.

10. THERAPY IS TOO EXPENSIVE

Not getting therapy is even more expensive; it robs you of the life you might have led.

11. EVERYBODY WILL KNOW I'M IN THERAPY

They will know only if you tell them. Do you imagine they would think badly of you if they did know? Don't tell anyone who you believe would use the information to hurt you in some way.

12. I'M GOING TO A.A. SO I DON'T NEED THERAPY

That's like saying "I'm putting on my socks so I don't need my shoes". They work together. Many people find therapy enhance the work they do in their 12-step programs. There are many therapists who are well trained in the recovery process and relapse prevention methods.

13. S/HE IS THE ONE WHO NEEDS THERAPY, NOT ME!

You will make great progress in therapy when you are ready to focus on changing yourself, not some other person who troubles you.

14. WHAT GOOD IS IT TO DREDGE UP THE PAST?

If your roof is leaking, the repairman is going to want to know a bit about the roof. What is it made of? When was it last repaired? How extensive is the trouble? That doesn't usually mean he is going to tear the whole house apart. Similarly, a therapist needs to know a bit about your personal building blocks, because your present life is resting on what has happened up until now. The best repairs are well informed ones.

15. I'M AFRAID THERAPY WILL CHANGE WHO I AM

You are going to change whether you are in therapy or not. Wouldn't it be less scary to march into the future with the confidence and courage that therapy can help you discover within yourself? Therapy can help you set your own course, and give you the tools to choose what you want to change and allow you to see what you really value about yourself!