This past Monday, September 25th, was National Psychotherapy Day. National Psychotherapy Day seeks to end the stigma around therapy that causes many people to avoid getting the help they need. By providing information and insights, we can normalize therapy and ensure that more people enjoy its benefits.
This is a big day for us here at Rivia Mind, so of course we had a few different things planned to highlight the day.
What Our Clinicians Had To Say
We asked our clinicians a number of questions about psychotherapy leading up to the 25th. These included:
- What does psychotherapy mean to you?
- What value do you see in psychotherapy?
- What drew you into psychotherapy?
- What are some common misconceptions about psychotherapy that you would like to change?
Naturally, our skilled clinicians had plenty to say on the subject. Our CEO and Co-founder, Dana Wang, MD, described psychotherapy as: “a safe space to process one’s feelings, to learn about one’s self with deep reflection, and to heal from past and current pains.” Medical Director Rachela Elias, MD, said, “Aside from helping people break down their own barriers, psychotherapy gives people time and space to reflect on their goals and relationships, and to reflect on themselves, in a way that most of us rarely have time to do in our daily lives.”
Dr. Elias further explained she was drawn to psychotherapy because, “I love the idea of being able to help people stop getting in their own way, and freeing them up to build a happier and more meaningful life for themselves.” Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Cristin Teutul, PMHNP-BC, talked about her love of hearing the stories of others, as well as her own positive experiences with therapy.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wang described, “The calmness of it and just taking the time and space to really connect with someone, hear their stories, and trying to understand how they experience the world. It feels nice to step out of my day and having this time where it’s not about me and my problems, but the person sitting across from me.”
Teutul further said that she wished more people understood therapy is not “for the weak or problematic,” but rather, “human beings learning to live their best possible lives in a world that is not free of pain or struggle but also not absent of beauty and joy.” Meanwhile another therapist wanted more people to understand that, “Therapy is a collaborative process. Clients can bring anything up about the therapy itself to cater toward each individual’s needs.” On a similar note, Dr. Elias reminded us that it is the patient who finds answers in their therapy process and the therapist merely guides them.
“Too often, people think a therapist is going to provide the answers and tell them what to do,” she said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, so the patient has to provide answers that are right for them.”
Supporting Psychotherapy as a Team
Rivia Mind is committed to supporting psychotherapy and fighting against the current stigma that exists. On September 25th, our team wore turquoise, the official color of National Psychotherapy Day, to represent the cause and our support of normalizing psychotherapy. We also held a company-wide meeting for all available team members to discuss ways that we can break down misconceptions about psychotherapy and spread accessibility to those who need it. As many as 26 Rivia Mind clinical and operative team members showed up to the meeting, as you can see below:
We used virtual backgrounds provided by our marketing team that read either “Promoting Mental Well-being Every Day” or “Breaking the Barriers to Psychotherapy.” National Psychotherapy Day might be over, but our commitment to these two statements remain all year and have since the beginning of our business.
Do you want to begin your journey with psychotherapy? Our skilled and compassionate clinicians are here to help you. Contact Rivia Mind today to learn more or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
