It’s simple: All Ontarians deserve to have access to high-quality, effective therapy and counseling. And most people would benefit from these services.
So it’s important to not let old-school stigma about therapy keep you from safeguarding your mental health and living your best life.
In this article, we delve into the stigma and misconceptions surrounding therapy, highlighting the power and transformational potential of online counseling in Ontario.
Being in therapy doesn’t mean you’re “broken”
It’s so important that we’ll say it again: being in therapy doesn’t mean you’re broken or that something is “wrong” with you!
While there’s nothing shameful about being in therapy, it’s important to resist messaging that says you need therapy or counseling because you’re “broken” or “not good enough.” These attitudes can further reinforce the stigma and shame that people experience surrounding therapy and mental health concerns.
Stress, suffering, and interpersonal difficulties are all part of being human; everyone experiences negative feelings and overwhelm, and we all need a little help sometimes. And none of this indicates that we are “broken,” falling short, or lesser than anyone else.
It’s totally normal to want or need guidance while navigating stressful situations, working through past trauma, or building healthier relationships. And counseling can be a safe, effective way to do these things with the help of experienced, trained professionals.
Therapy is one of the key ways that we can receive support while striving to be our best, happiest, healthiest selves. And taking online counseling in Ontario might be the life-changing opportunity you need!
Reframing why we go to therapy
We need to reframe our relationship to therapy: It’s not that you need therapy because you’re “broken.” It’s that you deserve therapy because you deserve to feel whole and build a life that you find fulfilling and rewarding.
It’s time to stop thinking about therapy as some sort of bitter pill we need to swallow and to instead think of it as a welcome opportunity to learn and grow into our best selves.
When we let stigma keep us from the local therapy services we need — like online counseling in Ontario — we are only hurting ourselves and our loved ones.
Barriers to therapy
But, for many people, attending in-person therapy poses barriers that can be difficult to overcome. For example, commuting to and from sessions might be inconvenient, travel can increase the costs associated with therapy, and attending a session in person can be less discreet than other alternatives.
It’s no surprise, then, that more and more people are turning to teletherapy – online therapy and counseling provided remotely – to suit their schedules and allow them to reduce costs while engaging in sessions from the comfort of their own space.
Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of stigma, why you deserve high-quality therapy, and how online counseling in Ontario can help you improve your relationship with yourself, your life, and others.
Understanding mental health stigma and stigma against therapy
Did you know that more than half of people with mental health conditions don’t receive the help they need? Because of fears around being seen or treated differently, most people delay or skip seeking treatment.
This has a ripple effect that starts with compromising the well-being of the person in need of treatment and extends to broader society, such as by increasing the economic burden of mental health concerns on society.
In Ontario alone, mental illness and substance use disorders comprise 11% to 15% of the province’s disease burden. So why are people so afraid to seek out the help they need?
The reality is that there is still a lot of stigma around mental health and mental health treatments, such as therapy and online counseling in Ontario.
Stigma is any negative attitude, prejudice, or incorrect belief associated with a person’s or group’s unique traits, circumstances, or health situation. Stigma is usually driven by fear, misinformation, and misunderstanding and can lead to marginalization and discrimination.
What’s worse is that stigma is often internalized, meaning that the people who are stigmatized and discriminated against start to view themselves negatively too! The American Psychiatric Association reports that self-stigma can make people feel less hopeful, experience worse symptoms, and be less committed to their treatment. Self-stigma can also impact recovery and make people more likely to accept poor treatment.
When it comes to mental health in particular, stigma may tell us that mental health issues and mental illness signal a personal failure, poor parenting, or a character defect. But this is not the reality. People develop mental health concerns for a variety of reasons, just as we can develop physiological conditions and symptoms in any number of ways.
Just as getting cancer does not indicate that someone is weak or bad, experiencing mental health issues or living with a diagnosed mental illness does not actually say anything about a person’s value or personal qualities.
Stigma has even developed around mental health treatments such as therapy. For example, some people may think that counseling is only for “crazy” people, that other people will judge them negatively for attending counseling, or that the goal of therapy is to change who they are. But these fears don’t reflect reality.
This sort of outdated and harmful thinking often ties into cultural and societal beliefs that we absorb throughout our development, and it can hold us and our loved ones back from seeking out the support we need.
Together, we need to work to break the cycle of stigma. This will make local therapy services, such as online counseling in Ontario, more accessible to those who need, want, and deserve support.
How to stop stigma
There are many ways we can work together to put an end to mental health stigma.
For example, consider these three key actions that anyone can take:
- Educate yourself. To combat stigma, you first need to educate yourself on the facts about mental health and mental health treatment.
- Share your knowledge with others. If you encounter faulty perceptions, stigma, and offensive comments, share facts and experiences to help combat them. A lot of stigma comes from ignorance, so education can be a powerful tool.
- Show compassion for those with mental health concerns. Being compassionate to yourself and others will help you lead by example and create a safer, more equitable society.
Thee Canadian government also shares these five additional tips for how people with mental health concerns can combat stigma directly:
- Talk about what it’s like living with mental health concerns. Start with the people you trust most, and branch out as you feel comfortable.
- Be mindful of the language you use when talking about mental health. Words have power and reflect attitudes and beliefs. This is why it’s important to avoid language that may self-stigmatize.
- Normalize mental health by discussing mental health as analogous to physical health. Just as we don’t hesitate to seek out medical help when we experience a physical illness or injury, so too must we reach out for mental health support when required.
- Seek out support and treatment when you need it. If you feel too overwhelmed to seek out the support you need yourself, ask a trusted friend or family member for their help.
- Become a mental health champion by sharing your experience of living through mental issues. What was it like? What impact did it have? What kind of treatment did you seek out? Discussing your personal experiences can help provide hope and courage to others in a similar position.
In other words, one of the most important steps to de-stigmatizing mental health and therapy is seeking out therapy when you need it, and participating in online counseling in Ontario can be a great way to do this from the convenience of your own space.
Therapy is for everyone – even you
While there’s nothing wrong with having a diagnosed mental health issue, it’s also important to understand and normalize the fact that therapy isn’t just for those with a formal health diagnosis.
Along with grappling with stigma, many people may not reach out for help because of the misconception that therapy is only for people with diagnosed “mental illness” or severe trauma.
People are also confused about the distinction between mental health and mental illness, and many may not properly care for their mental well-being as a result.
The reality is that burnout and stress are at an all-time high throughout North America and across professions, with workplace stress being a major culprit. In addition to this, Americans in particular are struggling with numerous external stressors that are outside their control, leading to 27% reporting that they are too stressed to function on most days.
While counseling can be life-changing for people with a formal mental health diagnosis, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder, it can be hugely helpful for anyone experiencing common issues such as major life changes, grief, divorce, workplace issues, and parenting difficulties.
In fact, many therapists and counselors report that their clients are primarily people without any diagnosis who are grappling with difficult life transitions. In other words, most people who initiate counseling do not have serious mental illness. They are just going through a difficult time or looking to achieve a particular goal and want or need a little professional support.
When we push our stress to the limits and try to manage everything on our own, we run the risk of taxing our ability to cope with our current circumstances. And when we can’t cope effectively, our well-being and ability to function as we’d like to can suffer.
So if you’re a Canadian in need of mental health support, consider signing up for online counseling in Ontario.
The benefits of online counseling in Ontario
Online therapy can be a great way to help cope with common life challenges such as the following:
- Work-related stressors
- Career issues
- Financial problems
- Chronic health issues
- Loss and grief
- Familial conflict
- Relationship issues
- Divorce and separation
- Academic issues
- Cultural assimilation
- Parenting concerns
- Getting married
- Adapting to sudden change
Instead of managing these issues on your own, you may want to consider trying online counseling in Ontario.
Where to find online counseling in Ontario
If you’re looking for online counseling in Ontario, this provincial government website and this Psychology Today page can be great starting points.
But you may also want to consider seeing one of Blue Rabbit Psychotherapy’s registered psychotherapists or social workers.
The Blue Rabbit approach
At Blue Rabbit, clients aren’t treated as problems to be solved. Instead, each client is accepted, respected, and valued for who they are and where they are right now.
If you’re human, your experience is normal; it’s that simple. At Blue Rabbit Psychotherapy, we’re here to help you make sense of it all and come home to yourself.
To see if we’re the right fit, consider booking a free 15-minute consultation with one or more of our therapists. There’s no risk and no obligation – just caring.
Jess Blackwell is a freelance writer and copy editor based out of Toronto. She helps small businesses, researchers, and other authors craft compelling, enriching, and persuasive content.