“Therapy is for Everyone – Except Me”: Breaking the Myth and Embracing Healing

“Therapy is for Everyone – Except Me”: Breaking the Myth and Embracing Healing

You would think that mental health clinic owners would have a personal therapist on speed-dial. You would also be wrong. This is my story—not just as a mental health professional—but as a person who took too long to get help, and why you shouldn’t wait.

The Cultural and Personal Barriers That Keep Us from Therapy

As a stereotypical Gen X’er, therapy wasn’t even a possibility growing up. Our family’s insurance barely covered the basics, so therapy felt like a luxury for the wealthy. Even as an adult facing the stress of divorce, anesthesia school, and clinical practice, I told myself I didn’t have time.

Exercise, hiking, cocktails with friends—those were my therapy. I thought that was enough.

When Self-Care Isn’t Enough: The Turning Point

When I remarried and blended families, I watched how therapy helped my wife and our kids adjust. It was effective, visible. Still, I thought, “Not for me.” Part of that came from toxic masculinity—I believed strong people didn’t talk about their feelings.

It wasn’t until opening a mental health clinic and watching one of our kids struggle that I considered, maybe I needed the same help I so often recommend to others.

From Clinic Founder to Client: My First Step into Therapy

What I did for my children in a heartbeat took me 40+ years to do for myself. The truth? I was overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, and burned out. I finally realized I needed to practice what I preached.

Thankfully, therapy was covered by insurance and accessible at Axis. With support from colleagues, I got connected to a therapist and began the journey toward healing.

What Successful People Know: Therapy Is a Performance Tool

Richard Taite once said, “Successful people don’t fear therapy—they embrace it.” I began to see that therapy wasn’t a crutch—it was a strength. Entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and high performers use therapy to sharpen their emotional resilience and achieve clarity.

Therapy vs. Medication: Treating the Root, Not Just the Symptoms

While I support medication when it’s needed (and at Axis we use it when appropriate), I realized antidepressants alone couldn’t get to the root of my depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

As psychologist Marian Margulies put it, “If you’re not getting to the cause of the pain, you’re essentially chained to the past.”

How Therapy Helped Me Rewire My Brain and My Life

Science backs it up: therapy creates measurable changes in the brain’s emotional regulation centers like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Psychotherapy doesn’t just manage symptoms—it rewires how we respond to life.

The Science Behind Why Therapy Works

Therapy helps address root causes of suffering, fosters emotional intelligence, builds coping skills, and improves long-term mental health outcomes. Positive psychotherapy, for example, emphasizes strengths, balance, and resilience-building—crucial for professionals and parents alike.

Therapy Is for Families Too: Modeling Emotional Intelligence

One of the best outcomes? My kids now have the emotional language I never did. Therapy has helped them (and me) learn to express feelings, set boundaries, and regulate emotions in healthy ways.

Still Hesitating? Here’s Why You Should Try Therapy Anyway

If you’re on the fence, here’s what therapy offers:

1. Rewires your brain—literally. It reshapes emotional responses.

2. Creates lasting change—not just symptom relief.

3. Improves relationships—by teaching empathy and perspective-taking.

4. Replaces self-medicating habits—with healthier coping.

5. Empowers your kids—by passing on emotional intelligence.

Affordable, Accessible, and Covered by Insurance

Many therapy services—including those at Axis—are covered by insurance or available with flexible payment options. Don’t let cost or time be the barrier.

Conclusion: Give Yourself Permission to Heal

Therapy isn’t just for people in crisis—it’s for anyone ready to grow, to feel better, and to understand themselves more deeply. Don’t wait 40 years like I did.

Therapy is for everyone—including you.

More Information:

• What is therapy?

• The science behind therapy

• Our therapy services at Axis Integrated Mental Health

FAQs

1. Is therapy still helpful if I’m already functioning well in my career?

2. What if I don’t feel comfortable talking about my feelings?

3. How is therapy different from just taking medication?

4. Does insurance cover therapy at Axis Integrated Mental Health?

5. How do I find a therapist that’s a good fit for me?