Psychologists attribute this low rate of treatment to the stigma and many myths attached to seeing a therapist. Among them, the concern that only "crazy" people need therapy or that accepting help is a sign of weakness or that the treatment options will be time-consuming and expensive. These are not true, says psychologist Mary Alvord, Ph.D.
"Your treatment doesn't have to be analysis four times a week; I have some patients who come for just two session consultations or for a cognitive behavioral therapy for a year," she says. "People feel like they'll get stuck and that's just not true.