Ah yes — the dreaded “t-word”: seven letters, two vowels, three syllables and 100% stigmatized. What could this dreadful, devious and truly diabolical word be? It’s therapy — every person’s worst nightmare. But does it have to be?

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The answer is (drum roll please): absolutely not. In fact, more and more people should use USC’s mental health services, because they promote growth, flexibility and stability.

I can’t say that I fully supported therapy to start with; in fact, I feared therapy and having to go to it. Deep down, I knew it was beneficial, but I was afraid of admitting that I needed help. I was afraid to show vulnerability, especially to someone who I thought didn’t care about me and was only paid to listen to me ramble about my issues. 

I started thinking this way because of the way my community demonized mental health resources. I am Korean and Filipino. I grew up with parents who told me things like, “Only crazy people get therapy — and you’re not crazy.” 

I internalized this belief — even though there were many times when I couldn’t breathe in the presence of people, or when I felt I wasn’t in control of my life or I was a fraud who didn’t belong at whatever school I was attending. I instead chose to bottle it up; if no one could see me hurting, then it meant that I wasn’t truly in pain.

I found out the hard way that I was wrong. I transferred to USC last semester, and I was afraid. I didn’t really know anyone at USC; sure, there were some high school acquaintances, but I thought they had no reason to befriend me. 

I was enrolled in some of the hardest classes USC offered; organic chemistry tested my mettle most. To make matters worse, my physical health took a turn for the worse. The isolation, stress, academic burnout, self-hatred and fear destroyed me as a person, and I cracked under the pressure.

I know that I am not the only one on campus who has experienced feelings of loneliness, depression, rage or anxiety. According to a 2023 survey conducted by Healthy Minds, 44% of all interviewed students reported symptoms of depression, 37% reported anxiety symptoms and 15% seriously considered taking their own lives.

The Mayo Clinic reported that as many as 75% of all students who experience symptoms of depression are reluctant to seek help, which can then lead to substance abuse and poor academic performance. A 2023 study published by the Journal of Family, Counseling and Education found that students often experience social, emotional and self-perceived loneliness, often caused by the changes that come with college life. 

USC offers several mental health resources students should take advantage of, including therapy sessions. Most students often start with short-term therapy sessions, which are covered by the Student Health Fee and are a great way to get introduced to how therapy works. Students can choose between individual or group counseling, though I chose individual counseling sessions because I knew I needed to talk to someone one-on-one. 

When I first met with my therapist, I didn’t know what to expect. However, I received compassionate and empathetic guidance from a certified staff psychologist. 

I was told my struggles were real and bottling up my emotions was unhealthy. Not only did I receive validation from a professional, but I also received a referral to a psychiatrist, where I was able to get on medication that improved my quality of life. These days, I am happier — something I never thought would happen as a student at USC.

I am aware that USC’s mental health services often receive mixed reviews. I’ve been told by friends that they don’t want to get therapy here because of the session limits; they don’t want to have to open up about their issues to one person before being redirected to another therapist after they reach the limit. I’ve been told by other friends that the quality of care they received from their assigned therapist was less than ideal. 

I cannot deny that everyone can and probably will have different experiences with therapy — but I also cannot deny the fact that it has, personally, helped me tremendously. I encourage other USC students to at least try therapy once; it might help you more than you realize.