Introduction:
Have you ever been forced to go to therapy? Hi, my name is Dr. Roger Douglas and I have a private practice called Douglairian Psychology APC where I have been seeing clients since 2021. In my experience, I have seen many obstacles that prevent people from starting therapy. If you have a few moments, I would like to go over the top 5 reasons why I believe people do not attend therapy.
Reason 5: “I do not have enough time”.
Some people believe that therapy will take up their whole schedule. If this is you, I hear you. Do you know how long a therapy session lasts? Do you know how often people meet with their therapist per week?
Solution: Communicate with potential therapist during your free consultation. Ask them how long the therapy session will last and how often you will be meeting per week. Then you can adjust according to your schedule. You are in charge!
Reason 4: “Therapy is too expensive”.
I get it. Trust me. I have seen the prices on some private practice sites. Did you get immediately discouraged and end your search? Do you have a budget? Do you have insurance?
Solution: Shop around and compare prices. Utilize your insurance. When I set my rates for my private practice, I made sure to make it lower than the other therapist in my area. By a lot. I also got on several insurance panels to make sure I can access people who cannot afford to pay out of pocket.
Reason 3: “There is nothing wrong with me”.
As the saying goes, “If it isn’t broke then don’t fix it”. Do you believe that there is something wrong with people who go to therapy? How do you view people who go to therapy? Where did you learn this perspective?
Solution: Everyone experiences life differently. I had an amazing supervisor that once told me, “Everyone needs therapy. Everyone can benefit from therapy”. There are many benefits to getting help. You do not have to be in crisis to go to therapy. If this is you, explore this with your potential therapist during the consultation.
Reason 2: “I cannot trust a stranger with my secrets”.
“If I open up, they would lock me up and throw away the keys”. Do you know what confidentiality is?
Solution: Ask your potential therapist or research the following terms: confidentiality, 5150, danger to self and others, insurance audit, and court order. These are the circumstances that your private conversation can become public.
Reason 1: “Therapy is for crazy people”.
Television has created a negative image for mental illness. This has created the stigma that we see today. Where have you gained your stigma towards therapy? Was it from parents? Was it from social media? Friends?
Solution: The best way to fight misinformation is with information. Do your research on the benefits of seeking therapy. Also research the risks of not seeking help. I have written my dissertation on the effect of stigma on at risk youth. The three main results were: incarceration, overdose, or suicide.
Bonus Solution:
o Click the link below and get yourself a copy of Douglairian Therapy to combat stigma!
o Click the link below to join a community of advocates!
o Click the link below to select a California based therapist to do a free consultation.
Conclusion:
No one likes being forced to attend anything: especially therapy. The purpose of this blog was to bring aware to stigma. I hope you have enjoyed my top 5 reasons why I believe people do not initiate therapy.
