It’s common to feel fear around going to therapy. To learn why fear around going to therapy is so prevalent and how you can work to overcome this, keep reading below.

What are some common reasons people might feel afraid of therapy?

• Stigma — The stigma around seeking mental health services has started to transform in recent years. But there still looms large an idea around getting therapy — that needing it means there is something wrong with you and you can’t manage it on your own. For people who struggle with this stigma, it may be helpful to think of going to therapy just like you would going to your doctor. You go to your doctor at least once a year to check up on your physical health and maybe even more if there’s something in your body that needs some extra attention. The same applies to going to therapy. You’re just maintaining the health of your mind instead.
• Fear of labels — Another big factor that clinical experts report hearing from their clients is that their clients are intimidated by potentially receiving a diagnosis. They feel like a diagnosis may be limiting and may put a label on them that they don’t wish to have. Diagnoses can seriously mess with our identities, which is why some therapists choose a clinical approach that takes into account a whole person, rather than just a person’s diagnosis. This approach is called process-based therapy.
• Negative self-talk — Another reason some people feel afraid to go to therapy is that they continuously engage in negative self-talk. They might tell themselves that therapy can’t help their situation or that they don’t deserve to get help. Both of these examples are never actually the case. Therapy is an effective solution for a variety of mental health conditions, and everyone deserves to get the help they need.
• Fear of looking weak — Many people struggle with how they think they’ll be perceived by others once they start going to therapy. Due to the stigma around receiving help during therapy, some are held back by the fear of looking weak or inferior to others who claim they are managing just fine without therapy.

What are some reasons why you should overcome your fear and go to therapy anyway?

• You’re likely to feel better over time — Therapy works. There are a number of studies showing that it can be effective at helping individuals manage their daily life and develop healthy coping strategies to improve their quality of life. If at first, you feel like you aren’t benefiting from therapy services, it’s likely because you need consistency to see lasting results. You might also need to try out a few different mental health professionals before you find one that works for you.
• It will provide you with a safe environment to work on your mental health — Finding the right mental health professional to work with means that you have a safe and compassionate space to reflect and work on the state of your mental health. The goal of your therapist is to provide you with impartial guidance and the tools you need to take on life. They should view you as a whole, multilayered person rather than just a clinical diagnosis. This personal approach is called a process-based approach, and it’s a type of clinical model that combines compassion with multilayered care.
• You deserve to strive for mental well-being — If ever you believed that you didn’t deserve to get help, we’re here to tell you that’s simply not true. Everyone who is willing to take a shot at putting in the work on themselves deserves it. It’s that simple.

If you’re considering getting in touch with a therapist but you’re finding it hard to overcome your fear of therapy, it may help to take it one small step at a time. Allow yourself to acknowledge your fear of therapy, and then make small goals for yourself. Perhaps you can start by researching a therapy provider whom you think you’d be interested in trying to meet with. Then, make a call or reach out to their office to schedule an appointment. It’s normal to feel fear around getting therapy, but it shouldn’t be normal for you to struggle with your mental health and not receive any help from a licensed mental health expert.

Lightfully wants to help you overcome your fear of going to therapy and get the attention you deserve

Our mission at Lightfully is to work with individuals to change their life compassionately. We strive to provide high-quality mental health care to various types of clients through a focused approach to process-based therapy. The framework of our clinic consists of evidence-based, clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care. Lightfully offers various layers of service to both adults and teens: residential treatment, Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also referred to as our Day Treatment Program. We regularly see clients who actively manage mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and trauma disorders. If you are experiencing fear around visiting with a therapist, we’d like to help. Our therapists are seasoned professionals who deal with a variety of people and help them improve their quality of living. 

Our licensed, clinical experts see each client as a complex and layered human. We value our clients as they are and hope to enrich their lives through treatment. Our vision for the future is an authentic and loving community where everyone can be seen, heard, and valued as they are. We believe in the light within each individual, and when that light is properly nurtured it can allow a person to shine brighter than ever before.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.