Has a loved one said this to you recently?
Is your social media feed filled with mental wellness content? Are your friends and family constantly discussing what their therapist said? Are you thinking it’s time for therapy but don’t know where to start?
Therapy can be very effective. But it also be challenging. So before you make a decision, here are some things to think about:
Do you want strategies to manage your anxiety? Do you want someone to discuss your relationship issues with? Do you want someone to help you as you make decisions about your life or career? While you don’t have to have a firm goal, having some idea of what you want to focus on, helps you and your therapist work towards something and ensure that you are making progress.
2. Do you have the time & space to participate in therapy?
The average therapy session is 50 minutes in length. However, after session is when you continue to think about and act on what you discussed in session. In addition to the 50 minutes each week, do you have time for this thinking and to do any homework your therapist may recommend? Therapy is also sensitive. Do you currently have the emotional bandwidth to explore and potentially change some difficult things in your life?
3. How will you pay for therapy?
The cost of therapy depends on the qualifications of the provider and the setting in which you access services. Services provided at hospitals or not for profit agencies might be free or for a nominal cost. Similarly, services provided by intern therapist should be at a lower cost. If you are employed and have access to Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) you may be eligible for a few free sessions. This is a great way to get immediate support and also to evaluate whether you are able to fully commit to therapy. Services provided my therapists in private practice (such as myself) do have a higher cost. However, many extended health plans do offer coverage for psychotherapy services when offered by a qualified provider (an RP like myself).
If after answering these questions, you have decided that now is not the right time, that’s okay! There are still lots of ways for you to work on yourself and make small but meaningful changes.
Try the following:
⁃ Listen to a podcast by a trained therapist
⁃ Read books by trained therapists
⁃ Build a support system of people who are living the type of life that you would like to lead and ask them for guidance & support.
If after answering these questions you feel like now is the right time to start therapy, then I encourage you to reach out to a therapist in your local area and get this process started. The work you do will change your life!
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