The American Psychological Association encourages individuals to debunk misconceptions about psychotherapy. On its website, the APA urges people to learn the facts about psychotherapy and how it benefits those struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, medical illness, the demands of parenting, substance abuse, anger management, major life transitions, and work-life balance. Jennifer Vear Hoy MS, founder of Peaceful Summit Counseling in Naples, wholeheartedly agrees.

“Many people I talk to have the wrong idea about psychotherapy and what counseling truly is. The majority think they need to wait until they are in the middle of a crisis before seeking help, but that is the biggest misconception. Psychotherapy is for anyone at any time in their life,” Hoy explains.

She adds that even if we are unsure how to articulate what is troubling us, anything making us uncomfortable should be addressed. This includes dealing with family relationships, grieving a loss, addictions, anger, depression, and anxiety, to name just a few.

“Today, I counsel many couples who believe that unless they are ready for a divorce, they do not need counseling. That is a huge misunderstanding. You want to seek help long before the marriage is in crisis. Even good marriages can always be better.”

Hoy emphasizes that marriage counseling often revolves around learning how to listen and communicate effectively. “Men and women communicate in different ways. It’s not about someone being right or wrong but simply understanding that we speak differently. Recognizing how each person communicates is often half the battle. Communication is a skill like any other. You will not be perfect the first time, but with practice, we learn the best way to talk with one another,” she says.

Hoy explains that learning to recognize when something is bothering us—no matter how small—is essential. If we find ourselves obsessing or losing sleep over an issue, talking it out with a caring professional can make all the difference. “Unfortunately, many people wait until it begins to affect other areas of their life before seeking help.”

Counseling is about self-care. “We take care of our physical needs by eating, sleeping, and exercising to stay healthy. Our mental health deserves no less. Our inner feelings affect our physical health in ways we are not even aware of. Ignoring our mental well-being is a great disservice to ourselves,” Hoy advises.

She notes that everyone has areas in their life where they could use some help. “No one lives a perfect life devoid of trauma and pain. Ignoring problems only makes them worse. Forgetting about them does not mean they will go away. Seeking psychotherapy allows you to address small problems before they escalate into major challenges,” she concludes.

Peaceful Summit Counseling is located at 1048 Goodlette Rd. N. Suite 201 in Naples. For more information or to make an appointment call (239) 307-4708. Visit  PeacefulSummitNaples.com. 

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