Therapy - Luxury or a Necessity?

We're halfway through 2009. Despite the occasional break of uplifting news--some hint of recovery in the housing market, stabilization of oil prices, the slow but certain withdrawal of our troops from Iraq--the mood is still sombre overall on the economic front.

While the debate over health care reform is still going on, everyday thousands of people across the country are losing their jobs--and their health insurance. You may know of someone, a friend of a friend perhaps, who is now struggling to keep up with the mortgage after having been pink-slipped a few months ago, and is only one illness away from bankruptcy.

Even those fortunate enough to keep their jobs are not spared from the mental agony of wondering, "Will I be next?" That is, if they have a moment to pause between the multitude of tasks they now have to cover with their company's downsizing.

The irony of it all? At a time when the population's mental health is on the decline, when marriages are crumbling due to financial stress, when family cohesiveness is giving way to distress, tension, and chaos, people are putting off seeking therapy because they can't afford it.

You know what eventually happens when you keep ignoring an aching tooth. You woundn't wait till your car goes up in smoke before you take it to a mechanic for a routine check-up. So why would you put your mental health on the line?

To be sure, psychotherapy, like other services in the healthcare industry, can be costly. But there are ways to get the services you need--in times of need. Many therapists (including myself) offer a sliding scale fee for clients who can't afford their full fee. Others offer variations of individual psychotherapy, such as group counseling, at a lower fee. Most therapists are also flexible in their scheduling: if paying $100 per week to see your therapist is not within your ability, negotiate to have bi-weekly sessions or shorter sessions.

Many good directories exists that allow you to check out the therapists practicing in your area. The good news is that you don't have to register or pay a fee to use these databases. Feel free to shop around on directories such as psychologytoday.com and goodtherapy.org. Or find out if your local church or synagogue offers free therapy services.

I believe that therapy should not be entitled to the rich. Everyone should have access to therapy when they need it.