Reasons Why People Don’t Go to Therapy
Many people don’t take professional help. These people have various concerns about psychotherapy and various excuses. I will try to answer the ten most frequent fears-excuses.
1. I DON’T FEEL BETTER DURING DISCUSSING PERSONAL MATTERS WITH A STRANGER.
According to my experience, this seems like a bigger problem than it is. Most therapists can make you feel quite comfortable quickly. If you have several sessions with a new therapist but are uncomfortable, you can openly discuss your concerns and feelings.
If you have faced difficult time, or you feel unhappy, anxious, or dissatisfied with yourself and your life – try therapy; you won’t regret it.
Therapy is a professional and personal relationship, and the alliance you form with the psychotherapist is an essential factor in the therapy process. Therefore, it is essential to trust your therapist and discuss your problems with him.
2. HOW CAN A CONVERSATION HELP ME?
In the process of psychotherapy, there is a permanent change in the psyche (also in the brain), which has been shown in many studies on the effectiveness of psychotherapy and neuroimaging of the brain.
Here is a great article on being Anti-Psychiatrist: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/psychiatry/being-anti-psychiatrist-can-cause-you-more-harm-than-good/
3. TALKING WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY.
Of course, you can also chat with friends and family. It is essential to find support in difficult times. Therapy is not a substitute for friendship, but how a friend does a psychotherapist’s work. A therapeutic relationship is different from a friendship. It provides support and challenges you, allowing you to achieve changes and how you experience difficult emotions, the way you treat yourself, and your relationship issues. Therapists are trained specialists who, apart from listening to you without judging, understanding, and accepting, they can help you find the source of your problems, understand their genesis, experience something new, and work out changes.
If your teeth hurt, you go to the dentist.
4. THERAPY IS TOO EXPENSIVE.
Psychotherapy under the National Health Fund is not mush good in the U.S, and private psychotherapy is expensive. However, it is a profitable investment in yourself. Investing in therapy today can prevent much more costly, life-impacting problems in the future. It is worth finding other things in the budget to save, instead of the positivity of your life and your well-being.
5. BETTER TO TAKE MEDICINES, THEY HELP TOO.
Psychiatric medicines don’t work equally for everyone. Additionally, any psychoactive medicines can have side effects. Psychotherapy has no chemical side effects and is an active, positive strategy. It works better with weekly psychotherapy. I am not an opponent of medicines; because sometimes they are necessary in everyday life. Medicines act on the symptom, and psychotherapy helps to deal with the causes of the psycho problems.
6. I DON’T HAVE TIME.
If you have problems that won’t go away by itself, finding an hour in a week can paradoxically save your time, money, and sufferings. Besides, you have time for whatever you want, you probably decide what to do with your 24 hours a day. Maybe it’s worth spending one hour a week on yourself (maybe two with travel).
- I HAVE BEEN TO A PSYCHOLOGIST SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT DID NOT HELP.
- Not every psychologist is a psychotherapist after four years of psychotherapeutic training. If you want permanent changes achieved in the process of psychotherapy, look for a psychotherapist
7. I HAVE BEEN TO A PSYCHOLOGIST SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY DID NOT HELP.
If you had unrealistic expectations that have not been discussed. The therapy goals have not been established, and your therapy’s approximate possible duration has not been determined. Everyone has a unique personality, so there’s no reason to believe that a new psychotherapist will fail you in precisely the same way as the old one. Another psychotherapist will be different by definition. Besides, if you take part in psychotherapy, you cannot expect changes after two or even several sessions. Psychotherapy is a process stretched over time; its length depends on the depth of the problems, their causes and is aimed at a permanent change in the area of specific problems with a focus on achieving the goals set with the therapist. The process also requires your involvement.
8. THERAPISTS SAY NOTHING, SIT, NOD THEIR HEADS AND CONFIDENTLY JUDGE THEIR CLIENTS.
It depends on what psychotherapist you are seeing. There are different psychotherapy approaches; maybe the one in which the therapist is less active doesn’t suit you. Professional psychotherapists (after psychotherapy schools) know their methods of work, and each one serves something. Even therapists who listen more than talk don’t judge you. Judgment is an entirely useless tool in our work. And if you feel judged by your therapist, you should express those feelings. It may seem not easy at first, but your therapist will most likely be happy to talk about any feelings that arise during the therapy, including those triggered by the therapist.
9. THERAPISTS DON’T CARE ABOUT THE PATIENT; THEY DO IT FOR THE MONEY.
People choose psychotherapy as a profession because they care about others, and want to help them. I don’t know any person who has become a therapist to get rich, but they take money for it because this is their profession. However, you are not the only person your therapist helps; he doesn’t think about you 24/7; besides, he has his own life, so you may think that you are not very important to him. But a good psychotherapist during these 50 minutes once a week is focused only on you, and your trust is most important to him at this point. Also, as part of professional responsibility, every reliable psychotherapist devotes additional time and money to supervision with certified supervisors, who may also consult your case to help you even better.
10. I DON’T WANT TO TELL MY SECRETS WITH OTHERS BECAUSE SOMEONE CAN USE IT AGAINST ME.
Psychotherapy with a professional psychotherapist is important, and the advices discussed during therapeutic sessions will be kept under professional secrecy. The only person with whom the psychotherapist can talk about you is his supervisor.
Thanks for reading.
