Does Going to Therapy Mean You’re Broken or Weak?

Lianne Perry, MA, MSc., RCC

Picture this: you’ve been holding it all together for months, maybe years. On the outside, it looks fine: work, relationships, daily life. But inside? It feels like you’re duct-taping a cracked dam. The thought of therapy floats into your mind and immediately gets chased out by another: “But if I go, doesn’t that mean I’m broken? Weak? The one who couldn’t hack it?”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I hear versions of this from clients all the time. And here’s the thing: that belief is one of the biggest myths out there and it keeps people stuck, when what they really want is to move forward.

Let’s talk about it.

Where Did This Belief Even Come From?

The idea that therapy is for “broken” people has deep cultural roots. A couple of decades ago, going to therapy was whispered about like a shameful secret, the way you’d talk about a bad perm in the ‘80s. It was something you admitted to only when you absolutely had to.

Add to that our cultural obsession with self-reliance. We idolize the lone wolf, the person who pulls themselves up by their bootstraps, the one who “handles it” without asking for help. Somewhere along the way, we confused independence with isolation.

But here’s the truth: therapy isn’t about weakness. It’s about courage. It’s about self-awareness. And honestly? It’s about efficiency. Because if your car breaks down, you don’t keep pressing the gas and hoping for the best. You take it to a mechanic. Therapy is no different.

Strong People Ask for Help

Think about the strongest people you know: athletes, leaders, parents juggling ten things at once. Do they do it all alone? Absolutely not.

Elite athletes have coaches, nutritionists, physiotherapists. CEOs have mentors, advisors, and entire teams. Parents (when things go well) lean on teachers, doctors, friends, grandparents.

Strong people know that going further means not going alone. Therapy is simply another version of that support system. It’s saying, “I’ve carried this far enough on my own. Now I want to carry it differently.”

And if you’re wondering whether that takes courage, the answer is yes. Sitting across from a therapist and saying, “Here’s where I’m struggling” is one of the bravest moves you can make.

Therapy Isn’t a Fix-It Shop — It’s a Training Ground

Another reason people resist therapy? They imagine it’s like dropping off a broken appliance. “Here I am. Fix me, please.”

But therapy isn’t about being “fixed” because you’re not broken. What it really is: a training ground. A place to experiment with new ways of thinking, feeling, and relating, without judgment.

For example:

• In EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), your brain gets the chance to file away old experiences that have been tripping you up. Think of it like finally putting away the stacks of paperwork cluttering your mental desk.

• In IFS (Internal Family Systems), you learn to listen to your inner “cast of characters.” Instead of letting your anxious part or perfectionist part run the whole show, you learn how to lead from your calm, compassionate core Self.

These approaches aren’t about labeling you as broken. They’re about helping you access the strength, wisdom, and resilience that are already in you.

Taking time to pause and reflect - therapy offers a supportive space to feel grounded, connected, and whole, reminding you that needing help doesn't mean you're broken.

It’s Not About Weakness — It’s About Wanting More

Here’s what I see most often: the people who finally reach out for therapy aren’t “weak.” They’re fed up. Fed up with being fed up. Fed up with carrying the same patterns, fighting the same battles, telling themselves, “I’ll just power through.”

Wanting more, more peace, more clarity, more authenticity, isn’t a weakness. It’s human. And being willing to do the work to get there? That’s strength. That’s growth.

So if you’ve been wondering whether therapy means you’re broken, let me offer this reframe: going to therapy means you’re unwilling to stay stuck. It means you care enough about yourself (and the people you love) to do something different.

What’s the Next Step?

If you’ve been circling around the idea of therapy, here’s what I’d encourage you to remember:

• You don’t have to wait until everything falls apart. Therapy is for prevention and growth just as much as it is for crisis.

• You don’t have to do it alone. Asking for support is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

• You already have what you need inside you. Therapy just helps you access it more clearly.

Final Thought

Going to therapy doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re ready. Ready to move beyond duct tape and quick fixes, and toward a life that feels more grounded, connected, and fully yours.

And if that resonates with you? Maybe it’s time to take that next small, brave step. Therapy isn’t a life sentence, it’s a path to freedom.

Joey’s Take

Listen, if my leash is tangled or my dinner is late, I don’t just sit there and pretend it’s fine. I bark, I paw, I get help. Does that make me weak? Nope. It makes me smart — and it usually gets me extra treats. Therapy’s kind of the same thing. Asking for support doesn’t mean you’re broken, it just means you care enough to make life better. And hey, sometimes courage looks like a wagging tail and showing up anyway.

Joey, the Australian Shepherd, proving therapy isn't weakness. Just like a raincoat, it's about support and protection when life gets stormy.

About Lianne

I’m Lianne Perry, a therapist in BC who works online with clients across Canada. I specialize in trauma, anxiety, and life transitions, and I’m certified in EMDR — a powerful approach that helps people heal without having to relive every detail of the past. My sessions are grounded, collaborative, and often a mix of talk therapy and practical tools. When I’m not in session, you’ll probably find me hiking with my Aussie, Joey, or sitting by the ocean (my favourite co-therapist).