Navigating Hesitation About Starting Therapy [Transcript]
In this video blog, I will talk about the hesitation people often feel about starting therapy for the first time.
“I don’t have enough time.”
One of the first hesitations about starting therapy that I often hear people share is feeling like they don’t have enough time for therapy. They often feel like they can’t make a weekly session, the same day and time, each week. It is important to think about the fact that therapy is 45 minutes, once a week, and it is a place where you can attend to anything in your life. Any problem you are facing, any question – you can address anything that helps you guide your life in the direction you would like to see it go.
Are you able to find time in your week for any other wellness or self-care practices or exercise like yoga or running? Are you able to set aside an hour each week to watch your favorite show or to read a book? Think about therapy as an additional space to focus on anything you need in your life for 45 minutes. Is that possible?
Read more: Common Fears of Starting Therapy
“I can’t afford therapy.”
Another hesitation people often share is feeling like they can’t afford therapy. Therapy can be costly. Fortunately, for many of us, we have health insurance which can cover the cost of session fees with the exception of your co-pay (which is often just $10 to $20). If the therapist you see does not accept your insurance, there is also the option to use out-of-network benefits, which covers a portion of the fee (usually anywhere from 50% to 80% of the fee). Check in with your insurance company or the therapist you are interested in seeing, who may be able to help you navigate that process.
“My work schedule won’t allow it.”
People sometimes say that their work schedules won’t allow them to commit to a weekly day and time for therapy. If you travel a lot, your schedule may be unpredictable. If that is the case, let your therapist know ahead of time as you are setting up the initial session. If your therapist knows this, it is possible that they will offer sessions by phone or virtually. In some cases, they may be able to meet with you at a different day and time, depending on your schedule and how much advance notice you have. Working around changing work schedules is possible, just make sure to let your therapist know ahead of time so you can plan with them.
“I need to find the right therapist.”
The final reason I hear people hesitate to start therapy is the need to find the right therapist. It is really important for you to find someone who you feel will understand your unique experience. It is important that your therapist sees you for your whole self, including the variety of your experiences, your identity, and your values. Fortunately, there are a lot of online resources geared towards specific communities and different experiences that you can use to find a therapist. One example is Psychology Today which allows you to search by every imaginable criteria: your location, what insurance you have, your various identities (gender, age), and the therapist’s background and approach.
Read more: 3 Ingredients for an Effective Psychotherapy Experience
An online search is definitely a good place to start in finding a therapist. If you do find a therapist you are interested in seeing, there is the option to have a phone consultation beforehand. This allows you a chance to speak with that therapist and it is often at no charge. This can give you a sense of their personality and if you feel you can connect with them. That can alleviate some of the anxiety about finding the right therapist for you.
I hope this was useful to you in overcoming some of the hesitation you may feel about starting therapy.
We know starting therapy can feel like a daunting process, but we can walk you through it! Book a FREE phone consultation with us to learn more!
How have you worked through your own hesitation about starting therapy? Join the conversation in the comments below!
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3 comments
I love this video blog, Glenn! Therapy can be so helpful but it is also something that is easy to avoid. You do a great job of outlining the common barriers to committing to therapy and how to overcome them. I know when I first started therapy, I was worried about being judged by my therapist. Once I started and saw how supportive and nonjudgemental my therapist was, I realized that I had spent a lot of time worrying about something that I didn’t need to worry about. I hope your blog helps others to find that clarity too!
This is an amazing video blog Glenn! As a therapist, we all hear a variety of client concerns when it comes to the therapeutic process. This video blog really highlights some of the most common barriers that clients may feel and highlights why they are simply just that…barriers. Therapy is a commitment just like you mentioned going to the gym or doing yoga can be a commitment, but the rewards are worth the time and energy of those 45 minutes a week. I think this blog will be a great reference for anyone that has hesitations.
I’m glad to hear that therapists can work around changing schedules. My work gives me a different schedule every month. So I imagine it wouldn’t be too hard to plan a session every month.
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