The 8 Common Excuses For Not Going To The Psychologist (and Why They Don’t Work)
Many people who need to go to therapy do not do so, and going to a psychologist is still an unfinished business for a part of the population. It is true that in some cases there are financial limitations that prevent being able to afford a private psychotherapy service. However, most of the time people don’t go because they prefer not to.
Those who finally take the step and attend their first session have often been through a long journey. They have weighed whether or not to go repeatedly and have weighed the pros and cons, as well as different professionals. In short, materializing the intention of going to therapy into an action usually requires a long period of time.
Although in recent years we have been able to witness a destigmatization of mental health problems, going to the psychologist is still difficult at first. Distrust, fears, doubts and myths surrounding the figure of the psychologist usually work against us when making the decision. Furthermore, we cannot ignore the fact that not everyone who needs help is prepared to receive it. The moment in which the individual is and his motivation to know himself more and make changes in his life is also a determining factor. In any case, the reality is that when someone considers the possibility of going to therapy, the mind often works wonders to come up with excuses, self-deceptions, and justifications. In this way, the time to go to a professional is delayed despite having requested it a long time before.
Here you will find a summary of the most typical excuses that people use to avoid taking the step of going to psychological therapy.
This is one of the most typical excuses. Many people claim to be able to get out of the bad time they are going through on their own, without help from anyone else. In this sense, the person’s education and values often influence. If someone has internalized the idea that asking for help is a sign of weakness, they will most likely refuse to do so even when they are in a very complex situation.
The curious thing about this excuse is that it would never apply to physical discomfort, because we accept that we cannot get out of an illness alone. However, when it comes to mental health we continue to believe that it is something secondary, that it is not that important and anyone can solve their difficulties.
2. There are people worse than me
Another common excuse has to do with the belief that therapy is made for “crazy” people or people with serious mental illnesses. The truth is, By this overwhelming logic, there will always be someone worse than us.
Returning to the example from the previous point, when we get sick we do not console ourselves with the idea that there are people with more serious pathologies, because it would simply seem absurd to us. However, in terms of mental health, the idea persists that a psychologist can only help those who have severe psychopathological disorders. Furthermore, when it comes to emotions, a highly invalidating attitude always predominates, as if the fact that other people have objectively more complicated situations takes away our right to experience our suffering. Furthermore, who dictates what is important and what is not? It is something so subjective that there is no line that separates what deserves psychotherapeutic attention from what does not.
3. Time heals everything
Time does not heal anything. In any case, what heals is what we do with the time we have. The belief that letting life go by is the solution to our discomfort is a complete mistake. In fact, this delays the time to ask for help, which can lead to worsening of the emotional state if nothing is done.
Yes, we live in a fast-paced society in which everything seems to go faster and faster. However, when it comes to priorities we can always take a little moment. In addition, we increasingly have more facilities thanks to technologies. This makes the lack of time no longer a problem, since It is not even necessary to go in person to an office. When it comes to our health, we must weigh its value and think about what other things can wait to give it the space it deserves.
5. I have friends to talk to
No, a psychologist does not listen like a friend would. This is a professional trained and qualified to evaluate and intervene on emotional and behavioral problems. Although you use conversation as a means of work, reducing your work to speaking and listening indicates a total ignorance of the profession. A friend can give us, of course, support and understanding. However, a friend is not a professional. Furthermore, as a friend he starts from a totally subjective vision of your situation, so he lacks the neutrality typical of a psychologist.
6. I don’t believe in psychology
Psychology is not a religion, so it is not about believing in it or not. Psychology is a rigorous science, backed by research that seeks to better understand people’s emotional suffering and how to intervene in it. Therapies based on scientific evidence allow us to provide adequate treatment that improves people’s health and quality of life.
7. I don’t have money
Unfortunately, psychological care is an unattainable luxury for many people, since it is a largely privatized service. However, in cases where limited financial resources are available, it is possible to look for alternatives. If you find yourself in this situation, you should know that you can go to social services to find out if there are low-cost psychologists in your area, as well as professionals who work for free in an association. Although in mental health you can have free care, in this case the continuity will be less, so you may not feel satisfied if you are looking for frequent service. However, as you see, not even a lack of resources is an excuse to have the help of a professional.
In our society, we have learned to look for quick solutions to eliminate pain and combat it immediately. However, it is important to understand that Emotional problems are not solved simply by taking a pill. While psychotropic medications can be beneficial at certain times, they do not address the underlying cause of most common psychological problems. Therefore, it is valuable to consider therapy as an additional option, even when undergoing pharmacological treatment.
What’s behind the excuses?
As we have seen, these excuses fall under their own weight. However, behind them there are some real reasons that make it difficult to take the step of starting a therapeutic process. Some of the most common are the following:
Conclusions
In this article we have talked about some typical excuses that many people use to avoid going to therapy. Although progress has been made in mental health and there is less stigma than a few years ago, the reality is that there are many fears, doubts and fears around psychology and the figure of the psychologist. Therefore, many people end up deceiving themselves with this type of excuses to avoid facing a process of this type. Among the most common excuses are lack of money, the belief that a psychologist listens like a friend would, lack of time or distrust of psychology. Beyond these types of excuses, there are real reasons that stop people from deciding to go to therapy. Mainly, they are influenced by the fear of being judged, what may happen with therapy, and stigma.
