Therapy: self-reflection

I’ve been a psychologist since 2017. Through my work I aim to reach and help as many families as possible. When I tell people that I’m a psychologist, these are some of the most common replies that I hear: 

So you’re analysing me now? 

But why? I have my friends to talk to. 

You’re a mind mind reader? 

You’re sitting on a chair and chatting all day long then? 

I can never do that listen to people’s problems all the time! 

My parents don’t believe in therapy. 

Problems? I don’t get it. Just get over it. 

You don’t look like a psychologist. 

Listening to people’s feelings, not my thing. 

Aren’t you tired of hearing people’s problems?

I’m so sorry that therapy is treated with so much suspicion, and I’m very sorry that it makes you feel so uneasy.

I was once with a friend who was telling off her daughter for doing something horrible (eating sweets after brushing her teeth), both I and her daughter were feeling extremely embarrassed and awkward by this interaction. After having finished the scolding, my friend ended with this phrase “if this continues, you’ll end up having to see someone like Theodora”. No, unfortunately my friend did not mean this in the “I’m worried about you so let’s get you the help you need” way, more so as “it’ll be punishment because you’re being so bad”. I thought about that comment for so long, wondering if that’s really how my friend of so many years sees my work. If my friend does, no wonder the general public does also. 

No wonder people are often so terrified of therapy! 

Here is my question for you: 

Wouldn’t it be better if people invested some time in therapy for themselves for their families before it got to the point of visiting doctors and getting time off school or work? To seek help when they first notice persistently low moods, or having difficulty with one part of their lives or a relationship, as opposed to waiting until they have reached the bottom?