The 8 frequent excuses for not going to the psychologist (and why they don't work)

Many people who need to go to therapy do not, and it is that going to the psychologist is still a pending issue for a part of the population. It is true that in some cases there are financial limitations that make it impossible to afford a private psychotherapy service. However, most of the time people do not attend because they prefer not to.

Those who finally take the plunge and attend their first session have often come a long way. They have weighed whether or not to go on several occasions and have evaluated the pros and cons, as well as different professionals. In short, getting to materialize the intention of going to therapy in 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. Mistrust, fears, doubts and myths around the figure of the psychologist usually play against when making the decision. Furthermore, we also cannot ignore the fact that not everyone who needs help is ready to receive it. The moment in which the individual finds himself and his motivation to get to know himself more and make changes in his life is also something determining. In any case, the reality is that when someone considers the possibility of going to therapy, the mind often works marvels to come up with excuses, self-deceptions and justifications. In this way, the time to go to a professional is delayed despite having required 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.

8 frequent excuses for not going to the psychologist

This is a summary of the reasons that some people use as an excuse for not going to psychotherapy despite needing professional help.

1. I can with this alone

This is one of the most typical excuses. Many people claim that they can get out of the bad moment they are going through on their own, without the help of anyone else. In this sense, education and the values ​​of the person 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 in a very complex situation.

The curious thing about this excuse is that it would never be applied to physical discomfort, because we accept that we cannot get out of a disease alone. However, when it comes to mental health, we continue to believe that it is something secondary, that it is not so important and that anyone can solve their difficulties.

• Related article: "Self-Deception and Avoidance: Why Do We Do What We Do?"

2. There are people worse than me

Another frequent 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.

Going back to the example from the previous point, when we get sick we don't 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. In addition, when it comes to emotions, a highly invalidating attitude always prevails, as if the fact that other people have objectively more complicated situations will take away our right to live our suffering. Also, 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.

• You may be interested in: "How is therapeutic adherence generated in psychotherapy?"

3. Time heals all

Time does not heal anything. In any case, what cures 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 favor the worsening of the emotional state if nothing is done.

4. I have no time

Yes, we live in a fast-paced society where everything seems to go faster and faster. However, when it comes to priorities we can always squeeze out a little moment. In addition, we have more and more facilities thanks to technology. This means that the lack of time is no longer a problem, since It is not even necessary to go in person to a cabinet. When it comes to our health, we need to weigh its value and think about what other things can wait to give it the space it deserves.

• Related article: "Time management: 13 tips to make the most of the hours of the day"

5. I have friends to talk

No, a psychologist is not dedicated to listening like a friend would. This is a professional trained and trained to assess and intervene on emotional and behavioral problems. Although he uses conversation as a means of work, reducing his work to speaking and listening indicates a total ignorance of the profession. A friend can of course give us support and understanding. However, a friend is not a professional. In addition, as a friend, he starts from a totally subjective vision of your situation, so he lacks the neutrality 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 tries to better understand people's emotional suffering and how to intervene on it. Therapies based on scientific evidence make it possible to provide adequate treatment that improves people's health and quality of life.

7. I have no money

Unfortunately, psychological care is an unattainable luxury for many people, since it is a largely privatized service. However, in cases where scarce economic 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 the social services to find out if there is low-cost psychologists in your area, as well as professionals who work for free in some 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 a frequent service. However, as you can see, not even the lack of resources is an excuse to have the help of a professional.

8. I already take pills

In our society, we have learned to look for quick solutions to eliminate pain and fight 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 pharmacological treatment is being followed.

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:

• Fear of judgment: Many people fear that the professional will judge or criticize them. Many times, these come from highly disabling environments, where they often do not receive listening and understanding. Therefore, it is natural that they expect the same from the psychologist. Shame and fear are a huge barrier for this reason.
• Stigma: It is true that we have improved in terms of mental health and that going to the psychologist has become much more normal compared to a few years ago. However, many people continue to fear being judged by their environment and being subject to stigma. This prevents them from steeling themselves to go to therapy even though deep down they know it's necessary.
• Fear of what might happen: Many people do not dare to go to therapy, not so much for fear of the trial, but for fear of what might happen if they take this step. They are afraid that this will remove them, that their life will change for the worse or that they will even receive a diagnosis that they do not want to face.

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 terms of mental health and there is less stigma than a few years ago, the The reality is that there are many fears, doubts and fears around psychology and the figure of the psychologist. For this reason, many people end up deceiving themselves with these types of excuses for not facing a process of this type. Among the most common excuses are lack of money, the belief that a psychologist listens as 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 influence the fear of being judged, of what may happen with the therapy and of stigma.