{"id":34,"date":"2014-05-13T22:46:49","date_gmt":"2014-05-13T22:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.deepcenterforgrowth.com\/candyce-counseling\/?page_id=34"},"modified":"2026-02-12T20:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T02:29:12","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.deepcenterforgrowth.com\/candyce-counseling\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You\u2019ve thought about calling a therapist, but you\u2019re getting by okay. Shouldn\u2019t you be able to figure this everyday life stuff out for yourself? Don\u2019t you need to have serious problems to call a therapist?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Let me just say that I have some strong opinions about this. Our always-strong-and-feeling-good culture generally promotes a medical view of therapy that implies that human suffering or confusion is a disease or an illness that needs to be diagnosed, treated, and cured. This \u201cdisease\u201d way of looking at suffering and change often stigmatizes people who seek help, and leaves many believing that therapy is for \u201csick\u201d or \u201cweak\u201d or \u201cmentally ill\u201d people. But you know what? That\u2019s just small-minded. As human beings, we\u00a0 have the capacity to stand back and have a broader view of humanity than that! I’d like to help us all expand our horizons about this issue:
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While therapy does indeed help with organic mental illnesses that cause much suffering\u2014diseases such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, etc.\u2014therapy isn\u2019t only<\/em> for people who are dealing with such organic illnesses. Cutting-edge neuroscience<\/a> is proving out what intuition has known for a long time: human brains are hardwired to heal, grow, change, and manage emotions in relationship<\/em>. It\u2019s the way brains (and hearts) naturally work.<\/p>\n

The natural state of possessing a social human brain means that seeking help from a therapist is actually a resourceful, healthy way to make it through difficult times, deal with big emotions, or navigate a life transition.<\/em><\/strong> American culture over-values independence, youth, strength, and positive thinking, so people often mistakenly believe that struggling, suffering, feeling sad, aging, or needing help figuring things out is a sign of weakness, negativity, or sickness.<\/p>\n

However, the opposite is true. One definition of mental health is being able to manage your own emotions until they get too big to manage on your own, and then having the strength<\/em> and ability<\/em> to ask for help when<\/em> things get overwhelming. Because things will<\/em><\/strong> get overwhelming for all<\/em> of us at some point. That\u2019s a given.<\/p>\n

There are<\/em> some therapists who do work from and promote this outmoded \u201cmedical model\u201d perspective, and you will notice it right away if you feel judged, pigeon-holed, labeled, etc. But I do not view your need for help as a sign of weakness or illness. I see you as a normal, resourceful fellow human who has the courage and strength to seek help so that you can be fully alive, and you will sense the respect I have for you as soon as you walk into my office.<\/p>\n

What kinds of issues does therapy help with, then?<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Talking to a therapist can help with anything that you\u2019re hurting, confused, overwhelmed, or uncertain about. I\u2019d be honored to help you with<\/a>:<\/p>\n