Seeing is Believing…or Not

Many aspects of life, including ideas, actions, and decisions, seem to be intertwined and dependent on each other. One challenge we all have in our life is to try to see them in a separate light so we don’t make assumptions that may not be true.

“Every morning, in the dim light before dawn, an oak tree seems to grow out of the pine tree in my backyard,” said Dr. Beth Plachetka, LCSW, EdD, owner of Safe Harbor Counseling in Sugar Grove. “Regardless of my perspective, the twenty-year-old trees appear inescapably intertwined. As the morning light grows stronger, it becomes obvious that the trees are completely separate.”

As a therapist, Dr. Plachetka sees how some patients assume a cause-and-effect relationship that doesn’t exist in reality. “Consider that the number of ice cream sales and deaths by drowning increase in direct relationship to each other, which is true,” she said. “Therefore, buying ice cream must increase the risk of drowning, which is false. These two statements are like me looking at two backyard trees in the dim morning light, when false assumptions are made.”

Ice cream sales and drowning deaths are related because they both increase when the weather is warm, but they don’t cause each another. “We see what we expect to see,” added Dr. Plachetka. “If we look no further, we’re stuck with what we saw. Optical illusions and sleight of hand can be entertaining - or they can inflict emotional, physical, or financial suffering.”

Assuming that facts are related, and making decisions based on the assumptions, can result in emotional and relational pain. “It’s crucial that we make decisions after examining assumptions and facts from many perspectives,” said Dr. Plachetka. “Mental health is very important. Don’t trust everything you see and hear until you’ve taken the time to look closely in bright light.”

For more information about making and applying decisions for a healthy mental life, please contact:

Beth Plachetka, LCSW, EdD

Safe Harbor Counseling

76 S. Main Street, Suite A

Sugar Grove, IL 60554

Phone: 630-466-8657

safeharboril.com