Lots of things come down to money. It’s a fact of life, whether we like it or not.
When we really need something this can cause problems if our finances are stretched or we simply can’t afford it.
What happens if you are going through a difficult time and counselling or psychotherapy could really help but you don’t have the money?
The NHS is always an option. You can vsit your GP and ask for a referral.
Unfortunately, waiting list times can be long. You can’t choose your therapist. You can’t choose how many sessions you have. You are usually offered 6 sessions, but for more complex issues 6 is not enough.
That leaves you with private therapy.
- You decide who your therapist will be.
- You decide how many sessions you want.
- You decide on the frequency of your sessions.
- Session times are more flexible and often include evenings and weekends.
In the first session I always discuss with clients how many sessions they would like and if there are any restrictions – time, money etc. It’s imperative to me that my clients get the most out of the time they have available, whether that’s 2 sessions or 20.
Some of my clients want weekly sessions. Others prefer fortnightly or 6 weekly sessions then change to once a month or a check in session every few months. Whatever works for you works for me.
Coming back to the issue of money…
If that is holding you back it is something we can discuss. Some therapy is better than no therapy.
We spend money on a gym membership, yoga classes, healthy food and drink.
We spend money on a night out, a takeaway, new clothes, a new car etc.
When it comes to mental health people can hold back investing. This can be incredibly detrimental to your health, happiness and relationships.
Don’t wait until things build up and get too much. Don’t wait until breaking point.
Be upfront and realistic about how many sessions you would like and tell your therapist. That way the sessions can be maximised to get the most out of them, whether you are having one, six, twelve or more. Money may restrict how many you have but it doesn’t need to stop you from receiving help.
Written by Julia Donald at Cognitive Vitality Psychotherapy in Inverness.