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This article was updated as of September 16, 2026.
Getting help in therapy is a sign of personal strength.
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| Getting Help in Therapy is a Sign of Strength--Not Weakness |
Seeking help is never a sign of weakness or defeat (see my article: Common Myths About Therapy: Going to Therapy Means You're "Weak").
Why Going to Therapy is a Sign of Personal Strength
When someone is ready to begin therapy, far from being a sign of weakness, going to therapy often requires courage to face difficult emotions, possibly confronting social or cultural stigma and making a commitment to change and personal strength.
A skilled psychotherapist can make the process more manageable by pacing the process to prevent emotional overwhelm.
Why is There a Stigma For Getting Help in Therapy?
Although it's more acceptable for people to get help in therapy these days, many people, who need help, are still afraid to seek help in therapy for a variety of reasons, including that they:
- Judge themselves harshly for needing help and feel ashamed.
- Believe they should just "get over" their problems.
- Believe they would be "self indulgent" or "too self centered" if they went to therapy.
- Believe only rich or famous people attend therapy.
- Think that only "crazy" people seek help in therapy
- Believe their problems are only in their imagination and not "real problems".
- Feel they don't deserve help.
- Believe that they must be "weak" if they need help.
- Believe they will have to remain in therapy for a long time to overcome their problems (see my article: Common Myths About Psychotherapy: Therapy Takes a Long Time).
- Worry about what their family and friends might think if they found out that they went to therapy.
- Believe the therapist will judge them.
- Don't know about Federal confidentiality laws, so they believe that their therapist might tell their employer or other people about what they discuss in therapy.
- Believe going to see a therapist means they're paying the therapist to be their "friend," which makes them feel ashamed because they believe a therapist couldn't actually care about them.
To reduce your fear or concern, be aware:
- You're not alone. There are skilled mental health professionals who can help undo your feelings of being alone.
- An experienced therapist has a lot of experience helping clients with similar problems to yours and she won't judge you for your problems.
- A licensed psychotherapist can't divulge your information under Federal law without your written consent--unless you're an active harm to yourself or others or you're engaging in child abuse (psychotherapists are mandated reporters and must report child abuse to the state).
- Seeking help in therapy doesn't mean you're "weak." On the contrary, it's a sign of courage and personal strength.
- Seeking help in therapy doesn't mean you're "crazy." Clients who are actively psychotic or delusional usually go to specialized programs--not to individual therapy--to get psychiatrically stabilized.
- Everyone needs help at some point in their lives and everyone is deserving of help.
- You can see a psychotherapist for an initial appointment to see if you feel comfortable with her and to obtain psychoeducation about that therapist works and about therapy in general (see my article: Why It's Important for Psychotherapists to Provide Psychoeducation About How Therapy Works).
- You decide what your therapy goals are, so you're in charge of of therapy and you can go for as long as you want to go.
- Skilled psychotherapists are empathetic towards their clients' suffering. You're not paying them to be your "friend." You're paying them for their expertise and time.
Taking the First Step in Therapy: Making the Call
Most therapists offer a 10-15 minute phone call before setting up an appointment so you can ask basic questions.
I usually encourage new clients to think of the first appointment as a session to see if they feel comfortable with me, to ask more questions about how I work and to discuss other similar issues.
Rather than plunging into the depths of their problems, I encourage clients to discuss what they would like to get out of therapy in that first meeting.
Of course, I'm open to hearing anything, but I find that speaking about their issues in a broad way, rather than diving into the details, helps clients to feel less emotionally vulnerable when we first meet.
After the first appointment, you can decide if you feel it's a good fit or at least good enough to have another appointment.
Get Help in Therapy
If you have been struggling on your own, you could benefit from working with a licensed mental health professional who has the experience and expertise you need.
Overcoming your problems can free you from your history so you can lead a more fulfilling life.
About Me
I am a licensed New York City psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, and advanced practitioner specializing in IFS Parts Work, Somatic Experiencing, AEDP, EMDR, EFT Couples Therapy and Sex Therapy.
I provide depth-oriented, experiential therapy to help individual adults and couples move past internal blockages into authentic relational alignment.
To learn more about my clinical background, clinical philosophy, and healing approach, please visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.
- Office Location: I see clients in-person at my Greenwich Village office (New York, NY 10011) as well as online via secure telehealth.
- Initial Contact: I provide a complimentary 15-minute introductory phone call prior to scheduling an initial appointment.
- Contact Information: You can reach me directly at (917) 742-2624 during standard business hours or josephineferraro@iCloud.com.
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