Is Stigma Preventing You from Seeking Therapy in Chicago?

Therapy can be a useful space for navigating life’s ups and downs, but stigma around mental health care is real and often keeps people from asking for help. Race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, and cultural expectations all shape how stigma shows up in our daily life. Feeling exhausted or conflicted about reaching out makes sense. We know stigma doesn’t disappear just because you want support, and we don’t expect you to push past it—we meet you where you are and walk with you through it. 

Understanding the Stigma Around Mental Health 

It is critical to acknowledge that stigma can stop people in their tracks when it comes to seeking help by labeling who and what you are as bad. We experience this stigma in multiple different environments, so why wouldn’t we expect to experience it when we reach out for help? When stigma stops you from reaching for help, it can make you turn to self-blame, trapping you in loneliness. 

Stigma around mental health has deep roots. People have mistrusted mental health professionals for good reasons, because in the past we have gotten it wrong. In the early to mid-20th century, people with mental health conditions were regularly subjected to lobotomy; parts of their brains were surgically removed, all for the sake of “keeping up appearances” and “not rocking the boat”.  

While there have been changes since then, mistrust remains understandable, as cultural understanding and accountability in mental health care are still inconsistent. There is now greater recognition that mental health is shaped not only by the individual, but by families, communities, and broader social forces—though this understanding has not reached everyone, nor has it undone long-standing fears. For many people, hesitation is not only about stigma itself, but about the worry that seeking help could still lead to being misunderstood, judged, or seen as “needing to be sent to the madhouse”.  

Why the Hostility? 

Stigma shuts us down from seeking help because it triggers a shame cycle. We fear rejection from our community; we fear being misunderstood, labeled, or ostracized. In some communities, this isn’t just a fear; it’s a reality. Yet, hiding and minimizing our struggles doesn’t erase them; it exacerbates them.  

With mental health becoming more discussed and diagnoses more prevalent, you have likely heard someone say, “it seems like everyone has a disorder these days!” This minimizes personal experiences and discourages people from seeking the help they need. 

When it comes to therapy in Chicago, stigma is not one-size-fits-all. Each neighborhood and cultural group experiences mental health stigma differently. For instance, in some communities, seeking therapy might be seen as a weakness, while in others, it could be perceived as a luxury or unnecessary expense. In tight-knit communities, there can often be pressure to maintain privacy or uphold a certain image. People are protective of their communities and can cause people to think their whole community is being judged when someone asks for help, which only adds to the pressure. 

There's a common belief that therapy is only for those with severe mental illness, or that seeing a therapist means there's something fundamentally "wrong” with you. Others think therapy is just paying someone to listen to you

talk, without realizing the profound skills and strategies therapists use to help clients manage mental health. The guilt and shame only further the vicious cycle of self-blame and a feeling that your health doesn’t matter or isn’t deserved. Starting therapy in Chicago is not an admission of defeat; it’s taking the steps you need to grow. 

Let’s Work Through the Stigma, Together 

Artesian Collaborative works to create spaces where people can be honest about the stigma they face. Stigma is not easy to move past. Our team understands how deeply it can shape someone's relationship to care, and we take that reality seriously in how we show up. If you or someone you know is considering therapy in Chicago, the team at Artesian Collaborative is here to answer your questions and make you feel welcome, no matter your background or experience. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with one of our therapists today.