How to Overcome Therapy Stigma and Start Your Healing Journey
If you're experiencing symptoms of trauma, anxiety, or depression, seeking mental health support is a courageous act of self-care.
Even though we are officially in 2026 and we should be in a place culturally where going to trauma therapy is not only normalized but celebrated, that is definitely not where we are. As a trauma therapist, I often underestimate how "risky" it can feel for people to come to therapy in the first place. If you're experiencing symptoms of trauma, anxiety, or depression, seeking mental health support is a courageous act of self-care.
One thing I feel is very important to call out before exploring this topic any further is the fact that I am a white, cis, woman. I grew up Christian. I don't belong to many of the groups that get the most flack from their cultures about going to therapy. However, I have worked with many people who do and will be pulling from my expertise there.
Whether you're considering somatic therapy, EMDR, or traditional talk therapy, understanding and overcoming the barriers to treatment is the first step toward healing.
I hope to share a few things with you that will help you to get brave and make that first therapy appointment.
"I Don't Have to Tell Anyone I'm in Therapy": Understanding Confidentiality
First of all, no, you really don't. You don't even have to tell your partner if you don't want to. Therapists are bound by HIPAA, meaning that we have to protect your confidentiality. If somebody were to call and ask "hey, is my friend working with you?" we wouldn't be able to confirm or deny that. HIPAA doesn't just protect your health information from being shared without your consent, but that fact that you are receiving the medical care in the first place. This confidentiality protection extends to all forms of therapy, including trauma therapy and somatic experiencing.
However, and this is only if you feel up to the task, telling others that you are in therapy helps to break the stigma of therapy! The more people (especially you, white, cis, hetero men) that are willing to say they are in therapy, the better.
If telling people is a barrier to entry, please know that your secret is safe with us.
How to Challenge Distorted Thoughts About Mental Health Treatment
We have distorted thoughts all of the time. Distorted thoughts happen for many reasons; due to depression, anxiety, or simply the negative beliefs we have developed over time due to our life experiences. Understanding cognitive distortions is an important part of the healing process.
A lof ot the time, our distorted thoughts are highly impacted by the culture at large. If we live in a culture that says that going to therapy is weak or shameful, then we are more than likely going to take that on as our own belief in some way. Even if you aren't aware of the explicit beliefs that are happening that prevent you from reaching out to a therapist, you might feel it in your bones. Like going to therapy is something that "people like me just don't do," you know?
This is especially true for people considering trauma therapy or somatic experiencing therapy in Kansas City, where cultural stigma around mental health can still be prevalent in certain communities.
Journal Prompts to Work Through Therapy Resistance
Take time to journal and process your feelings around going to therapy. How do you feel about it? What makes you uncomfortable about it? Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Try to journal about it. Here are some prompts you could use:
What do I feel when I think about going to therapy?
What is making me uncomfortable?
How have my friends or family talked about therapy to me?
What is the worst thing that could happen if somebody found out I went to therapy?
Who do I know that goes to therapy?
Could it be possible that the benefits outweigh the discomfort I'm feeling now?
Pro tip: talk to a trusted friend about this. Friends have a great way of cutting straight through our own cognitive distortions because they see the real us and have firm, loving beliefs about what we deserve. Try to start using this person's voice as you work through the therapy stigma!
Finding Positive Stories About Therapy and Trauma Healing
You need a counterbalance to these negative narratives about therapy. There are so many great stories out there about people who have had amazing success with therapy and credit it for the lives they have today. (Okay, here is where, as a therapist, I feel it is my duty to point out that the therapists themselves don't take full credit for people's lives changing. The clients do that.)
One person I love to talk about when it comes to trauma therapy specifically is Prince Harry. In 2021 he did an interview in which he received EMDR live and talked about his experience with this type of trauma therapy. When people share their vulnerability in this way, it helps us to be brave as well. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the evidence-based therapies we offer at Embodied Healing KC for trauma treatment.
Also, you can always seek out resources like PubMed which are less personal but can definitely give you information about the efficacy of different therapeutic interventions. This can also help increase your confidence in therapy. Research consistently shows that therapy is effective for treating anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms.
Understanding What Therapy Really Is: More Than Just Talking
I talk to my kids about therapy like I talk about any other kind of medical intervention, which is how I wish we all spoke about it. If you have diabetes, you need to go to the doctor regularly to make sure your blood sugar is in check and to get support with medicine. Mental health is no different. Mental health treatment is healthcare, and seeking therapy is as important as any other medical care.
Therapy is not just talking to somebody for an hour. You don't need to pay a stranger to do that if you have friends. Therapy is sitting with a professional who will help you to understand yourself and your patterns. A therapist will use their education, experience, and specific interventions to guide you through untangling unhelpful beliefs, trauma patterns, and behaviors in order to make your life more joyful.
What Happens in a Therapy Session?
At Embodied Healing KC, we use evidence-based approaches like somatic therapy, which focuses on the connection between your body and mind. Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic experiencing helps you process trauma stored in your nervous system, allowing for deeper healing.
Listen, I say this all the time to clients, but if people never got better because of the work I did with them, I would have the most depressing job in the world. I would just be sitting with other people's suffering all of the time with no end in sight. Therapy works when you find the right professional for you. It isn't just paying somebody to listen to you because you have nobody you can trust to talk to. It is actual intervention which produces change. Of course, you have to be ready for it as well.
If you're ready to explore how your nervous system holds onto trauma, learn more about how to relax your nervous system and discover the healing power of somatic therapy in Kansas City.
Happy healing! xx
Start Your Trauma Healing Journey With Somatic Therapy
At Embodied Healing KC, our trauma-informed therapists guide you with compassion and skill, helping you safely process emotions and build resilience. If you are ready to start healing from trauma and would like some support, reach out! Lauren Bradley has immediate openings and is ready to help you on your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Stigma Around Going To Therapy
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Absolutely. Feeling nervous about your first therapy appointment is completely normal, especially if you're dealing with cultural stigma or have never been to therapy before. These feelings of anxiety often decrease significantly after your first session when you realize therapy is a safe, confidential space designed to support you.
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If you're experiencing symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, or simply feeling stuck in patterns that no longer serve you, therapy can help. At Embodied Healing KC, we offer a complimentary phone consultation to help you determine if our approach is right for you. Therapy is beneficial for anyone seeking personal growth, healing from trauma, or wanting to better understand themselves.
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Many people face cultural barriers when seeking mental health treatment. Remember that your therapy is confidential and protected by HIPAA, so you don't have to tell anyone if you're not comfortable. Your healing journey is yours alone, and choosing to prioritize your mental health is an act of courage that honors your wellbeing.
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Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between your mind and body, helping you process trauma that's stored in your nervous system. While talk therapy works primarily through verbal processing, somatic experiencing uses body awareness, breathwork, and gentle movement to release trauma patterns. Many people find somatic therapy especially helpful when traditional talk therapy hasn't fully resolved their symptoms.
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Everyone's healing journey is unique. Some people notice shifts after just a few sessions, while deeper trauma work may take several months. The key is finding the right therapist and therapeutic approach for your needs. Consistency and your readiness to engage in the process are important factors in how quickly you'll experience change.
Stevie Olson-Spiegel is a Licensed Therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner located in Kansas City. She uses Somatic Experiencing as her main body-based trauma healing modality, as well as EMDR. As an Intuitive Eating Counselor, she uses these principles to help her clients challenge their relationship with their cultural misconceptions about their body and food.
