Having a mental health diagnosis is not a life sentence. In our world today, there are too many stereotypes about mental illness, and most of them are negative to the point that they can inhibit daily life but can also be harmful. One of the most widespread and unspoken is the idea that having a mental health illness sticks with you forever. I do not know where this idea began, and quite frankly, I don't care. I'm in the business of helping people overcome adversity and lead a productive, empowering, and fulfilling life.

In many cases, when I have heard therapists trying to answer this question, I am so confused by this action. Are they trying to bring relief to a client by giving them an answer, or are they so arrogant that they think they have the answer? I don't know. It has been my experience that there are better approaches than this.

The higher your emotional state, the lower your cognitive abilities. This rule applies regardless of how you view the human race, what time period you examine, or what section of the earth you examine. Many people forget this little but precious piece of information. I have let my emotions run wild to the point where my ability to function almost completely fell away for a period of time.

How does a client know that he has found the right therapist who will allow the client to get the most out of treatment? Some clients need a very passive therapeutic style that allows the client to control the pace or tempo of the sessions. In these instances, the therapist never challenges the client's thinking during the session. This method can be helpful if the client demonstrates practical analytic skills during sessions. Results can be had with the therapist providing little direction and a safe environment.

Over the past twenty-plus years of conducting therapy, I have treated many people who thought this about themselves. Their families have also told me this about the client as well. I have treated people involved in the legal system facing severe charges, which could result in life sentences. I'm referring to people charged with murder, rape, arson, and any other form of felony charges one could only imagine. The clients also faced issues that most of us have dealt with at one time or another. I have seen and assisted people facing life-changing events and witnessed them change for the better. These are not my words but their words.

When did the stereotype of a client's suffering through a therapy session become the standard? A lot of my clients are hesitant to engage in treatment because they are under the impression that it will be a painful process. They assume that every minute of treatment will be a form of torture that will follow them once they leave the session. This falsehood is another barrier both parties must overcome to succeed.