JESSICA MEHR
Opinion Columnist
In the last decade, mental health has become more openly discussed and accepted in the world, particularly in the United States. Beyond the greater inclusion of mental health, there are now more resources to help people manage their emotions and process difficult times.
Therapy has always been a popular outlet for many and since 2020, about 30% of American adults have seen a therapist. Talking one-on-one with a neutral party can be invaluable when trying to work through problems that can’t be solved on your own.
However, it can be tough for a young adult to get into therapy. There are many reasons for this, one being the high demand for qualified therapists.
When I wanted to get into therapy years ago, it was tough to find a qualified individual who was available at the times I could make work.
In addition to this, many therapies are offered online now, and although that allows a lot of flexibility for students who travel to school and don’t live in the same place all year round, this also may not be the type of therapy most prefer.
Therapy can be especially tough for those out-of-state. When you travel far for college it may be infeasible to continue seeing your therapist online or in person. University mental health services, including therapy, can be limited and sometimes involve waitlists, which makes it inaccessible for the everyday student.
For a lot of people, face-to-face therapy is the most effective and impactful. In a world where there are screens around us all the time, authentic connection can be hard to find, and in-person therapy can offer this.
Another barrier to incorporating therapy into your routine is finding a therapist you feel comfortable with. As we see in everyday life, some people just do not click with each other and the same can apply in therapy sessions.
It may take trial and error to find the person that is the right fit for you. When I was seeking therapy, I had to “break up” with my first therapist because I didn’t feel comfortable with that professional.
The final issue I found with getting into therapy is the openness and honesty of the person seeking it. When it comes to treatment it is so easy to lie or hide parts of the truth because it can feel hard to be completely honest about hard topics.
This strays away from the main purpose of therapy though, because you aren’t truly getting to the root of your problems if you can’t be honest with yourself or the person who is paid to help you.
When it comes to getting into therapy as a busy young adult, it can be very daunting. It often feels difficult to find an available therapist who you can open up to. You also have to determine if in-person or online therapy works more effectively for you, and you need to find it within yourself to be open and devoted to therapy.
If these aspects don’t align, therapy can be less effective in many people’s lives.
However, I think it is important to still try and seek help in this way. Although it may be difficult to find the right fit, the benefits far outweigh the effort it takes. Mental health is very important and any resource to help people should be prioritized and made available to the most people possible.
Jessica Mehr is an opinion columnist at The Review. Her opinions are her own and do not represent the majority opinion of The Review staff. She may be reached at jessmehr@udel.edu.
