Let’s Get Deep About Therapy
Jamie Marinelli
“I have a doctor’s appointment.”
Not that this is a lie. But it’s not the complete truth. I find myself constantly telling my peers and friends this, but why do I refrain from saying I have a therapist appointment?
I’ve been going to therapy since I was in 7th grade for generalized and social anxiety. I’ve had a therapist inside and outside of high school. I go to a therapist now as a senior in college. Overall, I’ve had 6 different therapists. Obviously, therapy has been a big part of my life, but it remains to be something I don’t like to talk about with others.
The stigma around therapy only enforces the stigma around mental health. Going to therapy doesn’t mean I’m weak. It doesn’t mean that I’m sensitive. It doesn’t mean that I’m emotional. If anything, it means that I have emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to recognize the meanings and their relations, and to reason and problem-solve on the basis of them. I didn’t develop emotional intelligence on my own. Therapy helped me to realize the feelings I was having and tracing them back to the root to fully understand them. Tracing and understanding specific feelings with those that have anxiety or depression help the mental illness seem more tangible and maintainable.
When I step back and think of therapy and how it helps me, it really just boils down to talking to an unbiased and educated individual who can help you sort out your thoughts and feelings. It’s not your mom and it’s not your roommate. You can tell this person anything and they legally cannot tell another, so what’s the big deal if it’s giving you a piece of mind?
I understand that therapy is not available for everyone, and some insurance requires a crazy co-pay for appointments. But, if you have ever thought about therapy and refrained from doing it because it’s “weird” or “for crazy people,” think again. We’re all a little crazy, and talking about it helps.
If going to an out-of-school therapist isn’t a viable option for you, Villanova’s Counseling Center in the Health Center is great. It’s FREE and it’s CONFIDENTIAL. College is a time full of stress and confusion, so utilize this free service on campus while you can. Unfortunately, if you have had years of previous therapy they will set you up with offices off campus, but this allowed me to find the best therapist I had so far! To find out more about Villanova’s Counseling Center click here.
