Psychotherapy is widely promoted in the United States and is increasingly acknowledged as
important and effective care that is okay to talk about openly. But, each person's cultural
background, life experiences, socioeconomic background, and educational experiences still
shape their attitudes and perspectives on psychotherapy.
Among people with a Chinese cultural background, a common attitude is to think that mental
health counseling is only for those with severe mental illness, to think “I'm not sick, so why
would I need therapy?” This focus on the medical aspects of mental health care leads many
people to avoid therapy.
However, in reality, psychotherapy clients are not usually experiencing severe psychiatric
symptoms. More commonly, they are struggling with common life issues and suffering that
affects their daily functioning. We need to change the dichotomous mindset that says that we are either sick or well and that therapy is only for the sick. Therapy can help us understand ourselves better, build self-awareness, and achieve self-acceptance. Usually, the root of pain is refusing to accept who you are and becoming caught in conflicts and struggles. Psychotherapy is a practice that promotes self-improvement, insight, and growth.
We are all normal and fallible human beings, which means that all of us will run across situations that are hard to deal with or adjust to. For example, the stress of examinations, the
disappointment of grades, trouble focusing in class or at work, or relationships with parents,
friends, and romantic partners can be too much to handle alone. Often we can adapt using coping mechanisms we learned from our life experiences, from parents or elders, or from helpful books. However, when our coping methods fail to ease and address our issues and concerns, we may struggle with stress, distress, pain, anger, and grief. Therapy can help build resilience to manage these emotions and stressors.
Our deep and heavy pain often begins with the false belief that there is no choice, which is a type of human thinking error. Therapy can help us learn to reframe unhelpful thoughts like this and see a way forward. Instead of feeling stuck and off-track, you can learn skills to care for your own mental health.
As long as you are willing to take the first step of trying, you are opening a new path of caring
for yourself. People often argue that one must first love oneself to love others. It makes sense
because only when you realize how to care for yourself correctly; will you understand how to
care for and love those near you in a 'healthy' way.
Reach out today for a free consultation to see if therapy can help you cope better with stressors, care for yourself, and move forward in your life.
In addition, Bodhi will soon offer free workshops in an effort to give more interested U of I
students a safe, open space and valuable resources to learn about mental health and
为什么心理治疗是值得的？
提到心理治疗每个人的态度和观点都大不相同，塑造我们观点和态度的正是我们的生活经
历，教育层次，文化背景，等等因素。
心理治疗在美国有着悠久的历史和深远的影响。现今美国如此推崇心理治疗与其治疗成果
，人文背景，和完善的政府政策等息息相关。
从中国人的文化背景角度，人们普遍认为 — “我没有病，为什么要做心理治疗？”。国人认
为心理咨询是针对精神上有疾病的人，喜欢把重点划在精神问题和疾病上。从而导致大多
数人都抱有避之不及的态度。
但事实上心理咨询的来访者并不特指患有严重的精神病的人，而更多的是指有着困扰和苦
恼的普通人。我们需要改变这种两分的思维模式，认为非健康，即病态， 从而更完善的
认识自己，了解自己，并实现自我关爱以及自我接纳。
很多时候痛苦的根源来自于拒绝接受自我，让自己陷入到冲突和挣扎当中。心理治疗是帮
助我们认识自己，完善自己，接受自己的一个过程。
人都会有局限性，也就是会遇到难以适应或是应对不了的状况，比如：考试的压力，分数
的打击，注意力不集中，与远在中国的父母关系，朋友关系，以及男女朋友关系等等。大
部分情况下我们可以从生活经验，父母长辈，鸡汤文章中学习到适合我们自己的应对之法
。这就是心理学中讲到的‘Resilience — 回弹力’。然而在我们的应对之法不能够舒缓和解
决应对不良时，我们将感受到生活给我们的一记重击并缓缓的陷入自我冲突的痛苦挣扎中
。
然而深刻而沉重的痛苦往往是由于错误的认为自己‘别无选择’开始的。这是人类思维中出
现的一种错误信念。心理治疗可以帮助我们重新审视这样无益的想法。学习一些心理学上
的技巧来照顾自己的心理健康并规划出前进的道路，而不是停滞或是逃避，导致最终偏离
轨道。
只要你愿意迈出尝试的第一步，就等同于为自己开通了一条关爱自己的新路径。常言到
，“爱自己，才会爱别人”。我认为这句话是有道理的，因为只有意识到该如何正确的关爱
自己，才会明白如何‘健康的’关心和爱护身边的人。
此外，Bodhi将于近期举办免费心理讲座，希望为更多感兴趣的 U of I 学生提供平台和有
价值的资源。请感兴趣的同学Bodhi联系报名。