How can I afford this?
Invest
Money is an energy exchange. The energetic buy in to work with me is high. That is the point. This is supposed to be a real investment, you have to literally buy-in to participate. And I want you to participate. This is not a passive decision. This is not something you can sit ideally by and hope will have some impact on you.
Therapy only works when you come prepared and ready to participate. I want you to have to think twice before you request an appointment. I want you to be aware of how much you are investing in your future, in feeling better. I want you to have to check in with yourself and be clear about why you are requesting an appointment and what you want to address. When the cost of change is high, you have to be an active participant.
Are you ready to direct your energy towards self-improvement? Are you ready to buy-in on freedom?
Resource
Be resourceful. Mental health counseling may be covered by your out-of-network benefits within your insurance plan. I can submit claims for you, and you will be reimbursed what your insurer covers. You can have health care services of your choice, often for little more than a copay. Support small businesses, which is what private practice providers are, by shopping for the best fit, rather than accepting the limited choices “allowed” to you.
Check if you have access to a health savings account. These funds can also be used to cover therapy services.
Ask a family member for help. If this is truly important to you and your wellbeing, ask for support. You are going to need it.
As Needed
Be prudent in your scheduling. We don’t have to meet every week. If you are motivated and dedicated you can get as much out of one session a month, as weekly sessions. With weekly sessions people become complacent and dependent on their therapist to do all the work for them, for one hour a week. In reality you need to be investing many hours, outside of session, to make progress. If you are dedicated to change, and participate in the process, you can see as much progress requesting one appointment a month, as someone in weekly therapy, simply by your own investment. If we view progress as hours put in overall, someone putting in four hours a month with a therapist, versus someone who is putting in 20 hours a month on their own, who do you think is going to have the most success?
Process work is intensive and can be overwhelming and draining. Not everyone can, or wants to do a process every week. It may serve you best to take breaks between sessions to integrate and prepare for what you want to tackle next.