I saw this sign in my gym and thought ‘How true is this’ not only for us getting to the gym but seeking help for ourselves through therapy. Mustering up the courage to go to therapy – can be the biggest hurdle!
Which lead me to ask the question ‘Why is seeking help through therapy such a big hurdle to jump!!
We live in such a fast-paced world that it’s not uncommon for us to experience emotional challenges and mental health concerns. We pay so much special attention to our physical health and what we eat, that our mental health can often take a backseat, leading to many of us struggling in silence, with nowhere to turn, this can make us feel that the journey of self-discovery and healing can be very daunting.
While therapy offers a powerful tool for addressing emotional challenges, self-discovery and personal growth, there are numerous reasons and common barriers as to ‘Why’ people find it challenging, that can prevent them from taking the steps that is needed to move forward and seek professional help.
A few barriers as to why people struggle to seek therapy, come under different categories.
“SHAME & STIGMA”
Perhaps the most unwelcoming influence is the ‘Shame & Stigma’ surrounding mental health issues. Mental health has been a topic for a long time and society’s portrayal of mental health can create harmful stereotypes that can cast a dark shadow over therapy. Many people are hesitant to reveal that they are struggling, and this is true in many men, the stigma of therapy installs shame and a fear of being judged or rejected from others.
If the idea of therapy feels overwhelming with the stigma and shame attached too much, take small manageable steps that will help you to overcome this. You can start by asking yourself ‘Why you feel this way and whether these beliefs are truly rational’. Recognise that seeking help through therapy is no different than getting medical help for a physical ailment, just as we would go to the doctors for a physical health issue, therapy address our emotional and psychological well-being. Confiding in a trusted person and sharing your decision to seek therapy can alleviate the feelings of shame, with their support you are safe in knowing that therapy is a positive step. Reading or listening to personal stories of people who have benefited from therapy, can help you to understand that you are not alone. Hearing about their positive experiences can inspire you to take the step yourself.
“COST OF THERAPY”
A high second is the ‘Cost of Therapy’. For many people this is a significant barrier and one of the main reasons why people don’t seek help. In today’s world therapy is just financially unattainable for some.
The cost of therapy can be out of reach for a lot of people and varies depending on the type of therapy, but actually when this is broken down into a daily amount, the cost of therapy can look more manageable. Don’t be afraid to ask a therapist if they do ‘Payment Plans’ as some therapists do offer this, making therapy more affordable. If you work for a company that has their own health insurance plan included, have a look into the policy and see what it covers, many health insurances cover for mental health, offering you free sessions.
“TIME CONSTRAINTS”
Modern life is fast-paced and demanding, leaving individuals with little time for self-care. Balancing work, family, and personal commitments can make it challenging to prioritise therapy sessions, causing people to postpone or altogether avoid seeking help.
Since covid it has been more accessible to access therapy, with many therapies now going online. Therapies can work just as well online as they do face to face. With more therapies going online this eliminates time constraints and allows people to work an hours therapy session into their day, more easily, cutting out the commute it would normally of taken to get to the therapists practice. Checking the opening times of therapists, is another way of organising and planning therapy sessions into your day, as more and more therapists are open later into the evening and on weekends, this fits around many peoples working schedules.
“PREVIOUS NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES”
Past negative experiences with therapy or any mental health professional can leave a lasting impact on us as individuals. Having a bad encounter with a therapist can leave a mark, causing us to associate therapy with discomfort, negativity and leaving us with a ‘That never worked attitude’, feeling let down and with no confidence to seek help again.
Many of us have had bad experiences with therapy or a therapist, but this shouldn’t lead us to give up hope. One of the best aids to sucessfull therapy is the rapport that you have with a therapist. Many therapists will have a short over the phone chat, followed by a free initial consultation, this is a great time to see if you have a good rapport and try the therapy and therapist on.
“LACK OF UNDERSTANDING”
There are many therapies out there, a lot of people hear the word ‘Therapy, NLP, CBT and even Solution Focussed Hypnotherapy (comparing this to stage hypnosis)’ and are instantly fearful, confused and have a general lack of understanding as to ‘What it is and its benefits’. Because of this limited knowledge and lack of understanding, we don’t take the steps necessary to find out just how these therapies can be so beneficial to us overcoming many mental health challenges, we just dismiss the thought, stereotyping and underestimating its potential to bring positive changes to our lives.
Doing research online and even calling a therapist and asking them to explain what they do, can help you to navigate your way through the numerous different therapies out there. Many therapists offer a free consultation or over the phone chat, here you can find out about the type of therapy, they offer and if it’s the right fit for you.
“DENIAL”
This is a ‘Big’ one ‘Denial’. How many of us can hold our hand up claiming that we have, at some point in our lives, downplayed our own struggles, convincing ourselves that our issues are not significant enough to warrant therapy. Being fearful of vulnerability and opening up about deeply personal and emotional matters, dismissing these emotions as temporary or telling ourselves that ‘It’s just a natural part of life, and I will get over it’ and undermining the actual importance of seeking professional help.
When we focus on the thought that our struggles and problems are not worthy, we only suppress these thoughts and walk away from the help that is out there, allowing them, over time, to rear their ugly head. Our problems and challenges are ours and no matter how big or small, they are just as important as the next person. We have a ‘Duty of Care’ too ourself to find the strength and acknowledge that we might need a little help. If we are not 100%, then we are not at our 100% best, to help ourselves and others.
Despite all the above and other numerous challenges, one invaluable resource that has proven its worth time and time again is ‘Therapy’. Choosing to pursue therapy and breaking down the barriers to mental health, will allow you to lay the first stone, paving and leading the way for others to do the same, helping to normalise challenging struggles and promote growth and healing. Getting help through therapy is NOT! A sign of weakness but a courageous step towards building resilience and creating an impact on our own well-being. Seeking professional help gives us emotional support that leads to transformative experiences, self-discovery, personal growth and equips us with effective tools and coping strategies, that we can use, that enable us to improve self-esteem leading to a stronger sense of identity and awareness, giving us courage, and encouraging us to have a better understanding and compassion for ourselves.
By dedicating time to therapy, you invest in yourself and your long-term happiness. This commitment to self-care will positively impact various areas of your life, leading to increased overall well-being and a better, fuller, healthier, and happier quality of life and lifestyle.
LETS BREAK!! THE BARRIERS TOGETHER.
