I have been working in the mental health field for about 10 years. If I had a quarter for every time someone mocked my profession and stated that therapy is a waste of money, I would be a VERY rich woman. Keep in mind, these comments have come from friends, family and even strangers! It is quite clear that there is a misconception about the process of therapy and what you pay for. I am so proud and appreciative that awareness of mental health has increased in the past few years, however, the concept of therapy is still a little blurry.
I could get upset and offended by the comments I’ve heard about therapy, but I would prefer to provide a different perspective on the therapeutic process. So for those of you that have considered going to therapy, but don’t know exactly what you are paying for, here are some reasons therapy is a paid service:
Therapy is essentially a one sided relationship. This means that you can meet with a person, share your feelings, thoughts, concerns, opinions without worrying if you are monopolizing the conversation. I often have to remind my clients that the session is for them to share, not for them to listen to my feelings. This gives clients the opportunity to take up the space that they need in order to unload.
A therapist is not your friend, your parent, or your co-worker. The therapist is not connected to the issues that you bring into the therapy room. This means that you do not have to worry about how whatever you are talking about will affect your therapist. I know this might sound odd, so think of it this way: if you are talking to your best friend about issues in your relationship, they probably have a biased opinion, considering they are your friend.
Therapy offers a completely nonjudgmental environment and unconditional positive regard.
Therapists are trained/educated in skills building and tools that can help you make changes to improve your mental wellness.
There are many background pieces to the therapy process that go unrecognized. Therapists maintain documentation of services and are constantly reviewing useful interventions to introduce in sessions. This takes time and energy.
These are just a few of the reasons why therapy is a valuable service. I think it is valid to want a clear understanding of what your money pays for. It is important to recognize the worth of something before you start spending money on it!