Frightened of Therapy? Let’s Clear Up Common Therapy Fears
Halloween is all about spooky happenings and frightful scenarios! For many, beginning therapy is a daunting step and can be accompanied by many fears that stop someone from making the decision. However, therapy can be a wonderful and healing experience for many. Here’s a few common fears associated with beginning therapy, and why they shouldn’t be as scary as they seem!
Therapists don’t actually care about me, they just want my money.
This is perhaps one of the greatest fears people have when they think about going to therapy. While therapists do indeed get paid for their profession, they didn’t enter this field for the money. To quote my professor: “If I wanted money, I would have studied business and became an accountant.” The therapy field is a difficult field to strike it rich, and this industry attracts those with a genuine desire for helping people. Additionally, being a therapist can be laborious work and those who are in the field just for the money will find it difficult to remain.
My experience is too much for my therapist and they won’t want to work with me.
Therapists are professionals, with a minimum of a Master’s degree and hundreds of hours of clinical experience. They are trained to handle the myriad of mental health conditions and experiences people may have. Remaining objective, non-judgmental, and professional are core skills that each licensed therapist must train in within their education. While all of this is true, there are times when a therapist may need to refer you to another professional, such as when your experience falls outside their scope of practice. For example, a marriage and family therapist may not have the necessary training to support clients struggling with eating disorders. The referral process is in place to ensure you get the highest quality of care for your needs.
I’m too broken for therapy to work.
While you may feel this way, the truth is that there is always help for you – help that you deserve. Therapists are trained to sit and be with their clients, however difficult or uncomfortable you may find your experience to be. They are skilled in helping clients through seemingly unmanageable situations and being a consistent source of support. While not every therapist has the clinical expertise to treat every mental condition, in these cases therapists will refer clients out so that they can get the care they need.
Therapy is too expensive for me, I can’t afford it.
This can be a completely valid and rational fear. Therapy is not always accessible to everyone, however there are many affordable therapy options out there. We have an affordable therapy option at The Healing Tree, for those who cannot use insurance or are covered by NJ Family Care. Here are some additional options:
See if you can find an in-network therapist covered by your health insurance.
Use the keyword “sliding scale” when searching for therapists online. Sliding scale refers to a reduced rate for services for people who cannot afford the original fee. Not every therapist offers a sliding scale, but those who do can offer you the same quality of care for a lower rate. There is never any harm in asking a therapist you’re interested in if they do sliding scale!
Universities often have community counseling clinics that offer sliding scale therapy to the public. These clinics are staffed by graduate pre-licensed students who are receiving their clinical hours for their degree. All students are overseen by a licensed clinician, so the quality of care is dependable. You can search keywords such as “[University name] sliding scale therapy” on Google to find these clinics. Here is a link to Rutgers University’s clinic in New Brunswick.
If you are seeking therapy as a survivor of a violent crime, you may be eligible for VCCO benefits. The Victims of Crime Compensation Office offers financial support for those who have sustained personal injury or mental trauma as a result of a violent crime in New Jersey. Click here for more information about services and eligibility. While the VCCO only covers crimes that happened in New Jersey, other states may have similar programs available.
If the above options don’t work for you, consider joining a mental health support group. These groups are often free to attend or donation-based, and can provide you a space for healing among participants who share similar experiences. NAMI NJ offers free weekly support groups for those struggling with their mental health.
I hope this blog post helps dispel some of those fears of starting therapy! While it is totally normal to find beginning therapy daunting, know that it is a safe, healing space that is catered to helping you discover your best self. So enjoy your treats and Halloween scares, and know that help is there when you’re ready for it!