What Therapy Is Not: Debunking the Myths That Keep People from Getting Help

Let’s clear something up: therapy isn’t a last resort, a confession booth, or a place where someone tells you to buy a gratitude journal and call it a day.

At Lodestone, we work with adults who’ve spent years figuring it out. People who’ve high-achieved, over-functioned, and Googled their way through stress for so long, the coping has started to fray. Often, they’re late-diagnosed, neurodivergent, or just incredibly tired of holding it all together.

And yet—even with all that—many hesitate to reach out.

So let’s talk about what therapy is not.

1. "Therapy is only for when things are really bad."

We hear this a lot. But therapy doesn’t need a rock-bottom moment. You don’t need a capital-C crisis. Burnout, decision fatigue, emotional flatness, feeling disconnected in your relationships, feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel with no off-switch — all valid reasons to reach out.

Therapy isn’t the fire truck. It’s the fireproofing.

2. "I’m probably not struggling enough to justify it."

This one’s a classic—especially for people who’ve learned to downplay their pain.

Your brain will always find someone who “has it worse.” That’s what it does. But minimizing what you’re carrying doesn’t make it lighter. You don’t need to earn help by suffering more.

Also: suffering is not a competition.

3. "I already know what they’ll say."

Maybe. But insight hits differently when it’s witnessed.

The work isn’t just about learning new tools—it’s about having someone reflect the patterns you can’t always see. It’s about not having to carry the whole story alone.

(And no, we don’t just ask “How does that make you feel?” on loop.)

So, what is therapy at Lodestone?

• Collaborative

• Trauma-informed

• Neurodivergent-affirming

• Gentle but clear

• Not rushed. Not performative. Not one-size-fits-all

We don’t sell transformation. We create space for nuance.

Sometimes that means talking through hard stuff. Sometimes it means naming patterns that have quietly shaped your relationships, your work life, your energy.

Sometimes it means just... exhaling.

If you're still unsure... that’s okay.

You're not behind. You're not broken. You're not the exception to the rule.

You're allowed to explore what care might look like—before things fall apart.

Read more about our approach, and stay tuned for our upcoming ADHD Reflection & Strategy Guide—designed to support late-diagnosed adults with self-awareness tools and everyday strategies.

We're here when you’re ready.

Lodestone Psychology – Real support for real life.