Committing to therapy is more than just commendable — it’s empowering. Prioritizing your mental health is essential to your overall well-being. Still, it’s so often placed on the back burner until a crisis occurs. Mental health is much like physical health; it needs continuous attention and dedication. Ongoing therapy allows you to engage in regular therapy sessions over time, helping you achieve optimal, lasting mental health.
Some research suggests there may be a direct link between the frequency of treatment sessions and favorable outcomes, yet data shows that even when therapists suggest ongoing counseling and care, many people don’t return for future sessions.
To change this trend, it’s vital we explore ongoing therapy’s many benefits, especially for people with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions. Consistency can help you build a foundation for deep healing and personal growth that can last a lifetime. Read on to learn more.
Understanding the Role of Consistency in Therapy
Therapy helps you understand yourself and your needs while offering critical coping mechanisms. The biggest thing to know about therapy is it’s not a one-time solution. Consistency plays a crucial role in overcoming whatever you’re seeking treatment for.
Why therapy isn’t a one-time solution
There is no quick fix for mental health. Like physical health issues, mental health concerns can develop over a period of time and often require patience and attention combined with repeated intervention to manage them effectively. Therapy helps you explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe place to find long-term success and change.
Because mental health is so multifaceted, most people can’t resolve concerns by going to a single therapy session. Being dedicated and consistent in your therapy journey is the best way to ensure you can address the root causes of your concerns. With regular sessions, you can begin to identify patterns and challenge negative thoughts that relate to negative experiences.
“Mental health often requires ongoing care as there are a range of symptoms or concerns you can be working on that are best managed over time. In a trusting relationship with a qualified therapist, you can discuss your challenges, along with your joys, symptoms of depression, anxiety, relationship worries, work stressors, and childhood trauma the list goes on and on and being able to do that often requires patience and time to effectively address your evolving needs.”
– Talkspace therapist Jill Daino, LCSW-R
Building trust with a therapist
Building a solid and trusting relationship with your therapist is one of the most valuable parts of ongoing therapy. Trust is fundamental to making real progress, and when you’re committed to consistent sessions, you can form a deep bond that provides a sense of security and helps you avoid feelings of anxiety about therapy.
This makes it easier to open up, be vulnerable, and fully engage in your therapeutic journey. It allows you to feel more comfortable and safer so you can explore past trauma or difficult emotions. A trusting relationship with your therapist will foster meaningful change that can lead to significant breakthroughs.
Adjusting to evolving needs
The path toward improving mental health isn’t static. Life circumstances change, stress levels change, and you’ll face new challenges. You can quickly and efficiently meet new, critical needs when you’re engaged in ongoing therapy.
By going to regular therapy sessions, you have the opportunity to revisit your treatment strategy and adjust your treatment goals in real time as situations evolve. It offers the chance to explore new therapeutic techniques without starting from scratch since your therapist already understands your background. For example, you might have started therapy for anxiety, but later, you need support in navigating an important life transition, like a divorce or a loss, and already being in therapy means adjustments can be made without a gap in treatment.
Benefits of Consistent Ongoing Therapy
There are many benefits of ongoing therapy. From seeing results quicker to gaining a more profound sense of self to preventing a relapse, regular therapy sessions help you maintain mental well-being. Understanding the rewards of consistently attending therapy sessions can help you remain dedicated.
Deeper self-understanding
One of the most profound benefits of ongoing therapy is the ability to develop a deep sense of self-awareness. Regular sessions give you the time and space to reflect on your life. Thus, you’re more likely to recognize unhealthy or unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and get insight into your motivations.
Over time, this self-awareness becomes a powerful tool that helps you make more informed, better decisions and lead a more fulfilling life.
Enhanced emotional regulation
Emotional regulation can be difficult to achieve, especially if you’re overwhelmed or triggered by stress. Ongoing therapy helps you navigate your emotions in healthy and effective ways. Developing healthy coping mechanisms is easier when you have consistent practice and feedback. Therapy can help you learn how to manage your anger, overcome sadness, or deal with anxiety and other emotions more effectively.
Sustainable positive behavioral changes
Real change takes time, dedication, and repetition. Ongoing therapy helps you establish and reinforce positive behavior and thought patterns by practicing new habits and getting feedback in a structured environment.
“Being in therapy over time offers the support to help sustain changes you have been working on – having a therapist to share your successes and, most importantly, your challenges enables you to build on the skills you have learned and apply them in future situations. For example, if you are working on self-advocacy at work, being in therapy consistently allows you to reinforce and expand those skills as you progress in your job and interactions at work.”
– Talkspace therapist Jill Daino, LCSW-R
Whether you’re trying to improve your communication skills in a relationship, manage stress at work, or set healthy boundaries with a toxic person, therapy can help you make long-term changes that enhance your quality of life in every situation.
Relapse prevention
If you’re seeking counseling or talk therapy to overcome a mental health condition like depression, anxiety, disordered eating, or substance use disorder, ongoing therapy is crucial in preventing relapse.
Therapy offers a place to check your progress and identify potential triggers. It can also help you devise safeguards and coping strategies to resist the temptation to fall back into old habits. Therapy can be proactive, allowing you to address issues before they escalate into problems.
Support through life transitions
Life is full of both expected and unexpected transitions. From starting a new job to moving to a new city to cope with the loss of a loved one, any important life change can be emotionally challenging.
Going to therapy ensures you have the support and tools you need to navigate changes with resilience, grace, and confidence. Having a qualified therapist you know and trust to talk to during these times can effectively reduce feelings of isolation and give you valuable perspectives and strategies to manage any uncertainty you face.
Common Barriers to Maintaining Therapy Consistency
Even if you know how crucial ongoing therapy is, it can be challenging to stay committed due to many barriers. Financial constraints, busy schedules, or even mental health stigma can all interfere with your desire to seek regular help. When you know about these common obstacles, you can find practical solutions.
Financial constraints
There’s no denying that the cost of therapy can be stressful for many people. Worrying about whether or not you can afford medical care is always concerning. However, affordable options can make therapy within reach.
Online therapy platforms like Talkspace offer flexible pricing plans, and insured Talkspace members often have a $0 copayment. Additionally, some in-person therapists offer sliding scale therapy fees, making therapy more accessible even if you’re experiencing financial difficulties.
Time management challenges
We live in a fast-paced world, and finding the time to do anything can be challenging. Work, family and personal obligations, and other life responsibilities can make prioritizing mental health seem impossible. Online therapy is an effective solution, though.
The flexibility to schedule sessions at times that are convenient for you — including evenings and weekends — combined with not having to travel to and from appointments, makes therapy more accessible and convenient.
Mental health stigma
Despite the widespread need, there’s still therapy stigma that can be a barrier to seeking consistent help. Some people are ashamed or afraid to admit they still need therapy. It’s crucial to remember that seeking treatment is a sign of strength, not weakness. Destigmatizing therapy starts with open conversations that normalize therapy as part of self-care.
How to Maintain Consistency in Therapy
If you hope to stay committed to ongoing therapy, you need intention and a plan. Fortunately, several strategies can help.
- Set regular appointments: Setting regular therapy sessions at the same time and day every week helps you plan and avoid double booking yourself.
- Prioritize self-care: Including therapy in your self-care routine, like eating well or working out, can help it become more of a habit.
- Keep a therapy journal: Journaling and tracking your thoughts, feelings, and progress is a great way to look back and see the growth you’ve made, which can motivate you to stick with it.
- Set realistic goals: Being realistic about what you want to achieve in therapy is critical for achieving the best outcomes. This is a crucial step in how to get the most out of therapy.
- Communicate openly: If staying consistent is challenging, talk to your therapist. They might be able to help you find a solution or change the frequency of your sessions, so it’s easier to stay committed.
- Use reminders: Setting phone alerts or adding calendar reminders helps ensure you won’t forget about or miss your sessions.
Make Ongoing Therapy Work for You with Talkspace
Consistency is key to unlocking the full benefits of therapy. Flexible scheduling options, affordable cost, and the basic convenience of online therapy are all ways that Talkspace helps empower, removing traditional barriers to care so it’s easier to prioritize your mental health.
Whether you’re trying to navigate a major life transition or just working on personal growth, commit to ongoing therapy to get the tools and support you need. Talkspace always keeps therapy within reach and tailors it to your unique needs. Reach out today to learn how online therapy can transform your life for the better.
