I Want to Go to Therapy, But Will It Help Me?

When you struggle with a mental health problem like depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, etc., the best gift you can give yourself is to go to a therapist.

Yes, this is often advised and there is a reason for that: Evidence-based therapy, meaning treatments that have solid evidence to back their effectiveness, can significantly help you.

Therapists are people specially trained to help you find a way out of this hole you are stuck in and can’t seem to get out of.

Often, however, many people don’t go to a therapist because they are scared or uncertain if it would be worth their time.

As a therapist myself, I want to shed light on those reasons that are stopping people from going to a therapist, clarify them, and hopefully, break down those barriers you may have about seeking the assistance of a trained professional.

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1. Not Understanding What Therapy Involves

One of the number one reasons why people do not seek therapy is simply because they do not know what therapy includes, and thus, they do not realize how it can be helpful.

Have you ever told yourself, “I want to go to therapy, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen”? Well then, let us take a minute to clarify what therapy really means.

In summary, therapy is a scientifically proven process that teaches you how your mind works. It helps you navigate your feelings, build better behaviors, and relate to your thoughts differently so you can live the life you want.

Therapists use clinically proven techniques to work with you to set goals, track progress, and measure results. They teach you skills to build emotional resilience so you can eventually leave therapy and manage on your own.

Most people think they go to therapy to talk about their feelings and that’s it. Talking about your feelings, while helpful in its own way, is only but one part of the process.

The therapist will also look for patterns in how your mind works to provide you with skills and tools to manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

A good therapist wants you to get better and leave therapy equipped with the right skills to be your own therapist.

2. The Fear of Not Being Understood

The second reason that prevents many people from seeking a therapist is the fear of talking about their current feelings and conflicts. Some may say, “I want to go to therapy. But how can anyone understand what I’m going through?”

Of course, it’s understandable that we fear being laughed at or misunderstood. However, you have to realize that people who have chosen this profession want to help others. They want to help you.

Their aim is not to laugh at your problems but instead to embrace them with you and talk about them, to help you connect the dots and create with you a pathway to healing.

Remember that whatever you think you are afraid to tell them about yourself, they have seen and heard it before, and they know about it.

In fact, trained therapists will show empathy as they can understand you much better than most people who have no prior training or knowledge about mental health problems such as depression, stress, trauma, etc.

Don’t worry about being laughed at or misunderstood when reaching out to a therapist. A good therapist will embrace and welcome you with open arms, compassion, love, and empathy.

3. Money

Lastly, the third barrier that’s stopping people from going to therapy is money—or the lack of it.

While therapy may indeed cost you money, your insurance—if you have it—could cover this. Have a look at what kind of mental health coverage you have.

If you aren’t insured and you do have to pay the full price of each session, remember: This is an investment in your well-being and mental health.

This is an investment in your own future.

You may think you can talk to friends instead to save you money, but these are entirely two different things that shouldn’t even be compared.

While talking to friends is, without a doubt, helpful, it shouldn’t be a choice between them or a therapist. If you genuinely seek healing, you should do both.

Try to set aside money for this, or reduce your spending on other consumptions to give this gift to yourself.

A common misconception about therapy is that once you start, you need to keep going. Alternatively, you’ll have to go to therapy for years. That is not true.

As already stated, a good therapist will have an endpoint for your therapy and will gradually reduce the number of sessions from once a week to once a month, until you both feel you can continue onward by yourself.

Therapy is often the fastest, most effective route to overcome the emotional and behavioral issues that keep you from living the life you want. Whatever you are going through at this moment, you don’t need to bear this emotional pain within you alone. Moreover, you should not. Don’t hinder yourself from living a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life. Give yourself this gift and seek out the assistance of a trained professional. You have absolutely nothing to lose and possibly so much to gain

Question about this article: Do you feel this article helped you to answer and break down some barriers about therapy? If you do have any additional questions, do not hesitate to share them in the comments down below!

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Jellis Vaes

Founder/CEO at The IPS Project

Mental health coach, adventurer, and founder/CEO of The IPS Project, the educational platform on life.

I Want to Go to Therapy, But Will It Help Me?