Why you Haven’t Started Therapy yet

…and why you should start like, yesterday.

You’ve been thinking about seeing a therapist for a while. You’ve perused a few online profiles. Maybe you’ve even talked to a friend about their counselor.

You know that you should see a therapist.

…buuuuut, you haven’t contacted anyone yet. You consider it, then look at Twitter or Instagram for a while, and then ultimately conclude, I’ll do it tomorrow, or, I’ll wait until things at work calm down.

Or maybe you have reached out to a few people, but nothing’s panned out. Maybe one was full, one didn’t take your insurance… so you’re feeling discouraged.

It’s hard to reach out to a therapist. It feels weird and uncomfortable.

And yet, therapy is worth your time and money. Therapy can help you find peace, fulfillment, clarity, and joy.

Therapy can transform your life, short- and long-term. It’s certainly transformed mine as someone who’s been on both sides of the couch.

(For more on the benefits of therapy, visit my homepage).

Here’s how you’ve probably been talking yourself out of seeing a therapist, and how to find your motivation to just call!

Reason #1. Therapy is too expensive.

This. Is. So. Real.

It’s really hard to think about adding another expense to your student loan payments, credit card bills, car payments…

And yeah, there’s insurance, but your co-pays might still be high, or you might have a deductible to meet, or the therapist you want to see might be out of network.

You might even feel like spending money on therapy is selfish, when you could be putting it towards things that would help your family or future.

Response #1: You get what you pay for.

Therapy is an investment in yourself and your well-being; your physical as well as your mental health (because both greatly influence one another).

And you get unbelievable returns on that investment.

Not only do you get a whole hour a week in which someone’s attention is completely on you, but it’s also someone with expertise in helping people.

The lessons you learn in therapy stay with you for a lifetime. They continue to benefit your health.

As you better yourself, you better your relationships with family and friends. Now that’s something worth investing in.

(Also, don’t forget that many therapists, including me, offer a sliding scale fee!)

Reason #2: Therapy is too much of a hassle.

When you come home from work, you’re too tired to do much of anything. All you want to do is flop down on the couch and watch The Great British Baking Show. Or some true crime documentaries… hey, no judgment.

The last thing you want to do is make another stop out of the way on your way home to talk to someone. And if you have kids?! Forget it.

On your growing list of demands and responsibilities, therapy often ends up at the bottom.

Response #2: Make it work.

Anyone else read that in Tim Gunn’s voice? 🙂

It may take some research, but you can absolutely find a therapist whose location and schedule will work for you.

If right now you’re saying to your computer, No I can’t! I’ve really tried!, look into online counseling or teletherapy. Teletherapy allows you to video chat with a therapist from the comforts of your own home.

Want to feel better? Make good decisions? Live the life you’ve always dreamed of?

Then you will find ways around these roadblocks and get yourself to therapy!

Reason #3: I don’t really need therapy.

You can get through this rough patch on your own. Hey, you’ve done it for your whole life until now, right? You’re a strong person. You don’t need therapy.

And hey, your problems aren’t that bad. Other people have it so much worse. Won’t you be wasting the therapist’s time?

Response #3: You don’t have to struggle alone.

You’re right, you don’t need to see a therapist. You don’t need to see a doctor, either. Many people don’t, and they survive a lot of intense illnesses and injuries (anyone else read Educated?).

But you also don’t need to keep suffering.

If there’s someone out there who can help you feel better, why not reach out?

Your problems are “big enough.” You are enough. You are worthy of help, and accepting it does not make you weak.

There is no one “too messed up” or “not messed up enough” to see a therapist. You are the perfect therapy client, exactly as you are in this moment.

So don’t wait any longer. Just call. Six months from now, you’ll be so glad you started therapy when you did.