Has someone been telling you that you really should get some psychotherapy or counselling?
And is your response, ‘Damn it, I don’t need therapy!’
‘I don’t want therapy. I don’t need therapy!’
Then you may be relieved to hear that perhaps you shouldn’t go. Why? Because therapy can only work if you are up for it. If you’re saying ‘I don’t need therapy’ then maybe now really isn’t the time.
And if you’re only going to therapy because you feel someone is making you go, then the chances are that the therapy will not be very effective.
Reasons NOT to start therapy or counselling.... Share on XHere are some other reasons for a person not to go for therapy.
If any of them apply to you, it doesn’t mean therapy will never work. It just means you need to think carefully before diving in.
1. It is logistically difficult to get to the therapist’s office.
(This is a journey that you will need to repeat once a week for quite a while. Make sure it is doable).
2. You don’t want to think about your mind, your life, your problems, and your relationships…
…And you definitely, definitely don’t want to discuss that stuff with anyone, even in private.
(Probably best to steer clear of therapy then, and try some distraction techniques instead!)
3. You misuse substances or alcohol, and you don’t have a strong desire to change.
(It’s important that you have a strong wish to get clean, otherwise you won’t progress.)
4. The therapist is your friend or family member’s therapist.
(No matter how wonderful their therapist is, it’s important that you see someone different, someone just for you.)
5. You just want to be told what to do.
(Sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not how therapy works!)
6. You get a bad feeling about this therapist, and your intuition tells you they aren’t a good fit for you.
(Try a couple more therapists, and see if you can find one you click with.)
7. You think all your difficulties are someone else’s fault.
(Therapy definitely won’t help you if you persist in believing that someone else has to change and you don’t.)
8. You see a pattern of the same sort of difficulties repeating over and over in your life, and you think it’s simply ‘bad luck’ and not something that you could ever influence in any way.
(Lots of people experience awful things happening which are not their fault. But if there’s a repeating pattern going on, it’s wise to be open to considering that something about your behaviors or attitude might be contributing to what happens.)
What other reasons can you think of for not going to therapy? Let me know in the comments below! (I might even draw a little cartoon of it to add to this post!)
(…And if you do decide to give therapy or counselling a try, here are some tips for helping your first session go well.)