Ep 03: Top Reasons People Talk Themselves Out of Signing Up For Therapy
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Are you a Maryland resident looking for therapy services?
Resources
8 Questions to Ask a New Therapist — Worksheet
Making the Most of Therapy Journal — Paperback
Transcript:
Welcome to the Starting Therapy Podcast Series. I’m your host, Melissa Wesner, Founder and Owner of LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland where our mission is to provide hope, healing, and empowerment through the collaborative process of counseling. This podcast is for anyone who is thinking about signing up for therapy! Let’s dive in!
Welcome back! While this podcast series is about starting therapy, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the reasons that people NEVER start therapy.
Therapy is great for a number of reasons. It’s time that’s dedicated just for you, your goals, and to feeling better. Therapy allows us to share things that we don’t feel comfortable sharing with others. We have another person’s undivided attention. We have a non-judgmental space. We get helpful information. We learn coping strategies, and we get outside feedback that can be really helpful.
Nonetheless, there are things that get in the way of people’s pursuit of counseling, even if they’re interested. Today, I’ll be talking about the most common reasons that people might not follow through with starting therapy, even if they want to.
Time. How many times have you said, “I just don’t have the time?” We’re all probably guilty of that. Yet, when it comes to therapy and other forms of self-care, we have to remember that we all get the same 24 hours in a day, and it’s up to us to decide what to do with them. If you’ve been using the “I’m too busy” line, I want you to think about the things that are taking up space on your calendar. Literally, look at your calendar!! What does your use of time say about what matters to you most? And, what does it say if you can’t (or won’t) take one hour out of your week to focus on yourself?
Money. They can be expensive. AND….mental health therapy is ALSO something that is covered by your health insurance, assuming that you meet criteria for medical necessity. In that way, therapy can be affordable. Even if you have a deductible, you are still getting a reduced rate when you pay for therapy services.
Stigma. It’s unfortunate, that there’s still a stigma around mental health and mental health treatment because, at the end of the day, we ALL have mental health. Yes, WE ALL have mental health just like we all have physical health, and just like physical health, our mental health is sometimes in good shape, and sometimes it’s not. Sometimes we’re worried about what others will think if they know we’re in therapy or if they know that we take medication for our mental health. One—It’s nobody’s business, so you don’t have an obligation to tell anybody if you don’t want to. And Two….if you were going to a doctor’s appointment, you likely wouldn’t be embarrassed to say that you have a doctor’s appointment because that’s normal. It’s what we’re supposed to do to stay healthy and take care of ourselves. In the same way, it should be looked upon as a normal and appropriate thing to do for us to go to therapy when we need to. We also wouldn’t shame somebody for taking their high blood pressure medications or acknowledging that they take that medication. In the same way, we shouldn’t shame people for taking medications for their mental health. Anyone that shames you for taking care of your health, doesn’t need to have access to your information.
I’m sure there are other reasons why people don’t actually move forward with counseling services, but these are a few of the big ones. If you’ve been toying with these excuses, I want you to focus on prioritizing yourself and your own needs. We make time, energy, and money for the things that are important to you. Therapy is an investment of time, energy, and money. And, I certainly think YOU are worth investing in. If someone you loved needed therapy, I’m sure you would encourage them to move forward with it. In the same way, I would encourage you to move forward with therapy if you think it’s something you need.
This week, I’m challenging you to recognizing any of these excuses popping up. Rather than letting those excuses win, figure out how you will create the time, energy, and financial resources to get yourself signed up for therapy.
I’ll be talking to you real soon!
Thanks for listening to the Starting Therapy Podcast Series. If you’re a Maryland resident looking for online counseling services, or if you’re someone who is looking for Brainspotting, check out our website at lifespringcounseling.net or give us a call at 410-497-8451. We have great resources for you in the show notes too! We’re here to support you as you make the decision to start therapy!
