What to do when self-care isn’t enough.

In the previous blog, we contrasted traditional “brick and mortar” psychotherapy with more contemporary “gig” style therapy apps and services. Probably one of the biggest attractions for these apps is that traditional therapy can feel challenging and like a major commitment. That extra challenge makes us re-evaluate whether it’s worth the effort.

We recognize that there are a lot of reasons that these new services might be attractive to someone considering therapy. In this blog, we want to do two things. First, we’d like to invite you to reflect on when it’s time to get help for a mental health issue beyond relying on self-care tools. Second, we want to give you the exact steps you will take to get there. 

Self-Care or Therapy?

You might be familiar with the language of self-care. Increasingly, people are hearing that they need to practice self-care which is a kind of mental health maintenance. On some level this might just be occasional treats, spa days, gym classes, hobbies, and more that are meant to counter burnout and general life dissatisfaction.

Journalling, sleep tracking, meditation, and regular self-care can be an important part of mental health. There’s nothing wrong with using these platforms as a part of your mental maintenance.

The problem is that it’s hard to know when you need more than just mental maintenance. We get it. But think of it this way: if you have the sense that there might be a consistent problem in your life that doesn’t really feel cured by self-care routines, then it’s time to talk to a professional.

Over-the-counter pain medication like Advil and Tylenol can do a really good job of reducing a headache temporarily. Headaches are just a part of life, and while you might have a sense of what’s caused it, the day-to-day stuff can often just lead to an occasional headache. However, if you started getting a headache every single day, at some point you’d think it’s worthwhile going to a doctor. Even if the headache is manageable with a painkiller, you know that headaches can be the sign of something deeper.

The doctor might even say there’s nothing wrong, or that sleeping a bit more, exercise, or drinking water is the best fix. But you would still feel good for having gone to get it checked out right?

Mental health is the same. If you feel off every day or most days, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to a professional. Trust your instinct that you deserve a shot at lasting change through a committed therapy routine.

How does it work?

The best place to start is the consult call. This is a brief (15 minute) call with one of our psychotherapists.

Step 1

Read the bios for each of our therapists and determine which one seems right for you. Remember, the best chance of success you’ll have is when you work with a therapist that you’re comfortable with.

It’s important to find the right therapist. We actually have a blog on this topic. But it’s also important not to get too bogged down by making sure you have the right therapist on the first try. That’s the whole point of a consult call. If you or the therapist doesn’t think it’s going to work, then you can move on to the next option.

Therapy is a skill that you get better at over time. It is entirely possible to go through a course of psychotherapy with someone and then find they no longer offer what you need. Maybe it’s a different therapeutic style, or a philosophy, or a set of expertise. The time spent speaking with a therapist, even one you don’t wind up working with, is never a waste of time. It’s all a part of the process of figuring out what you want.

All of this to say, read the bios. Schedule a consult call. Don’t think to hard about it. When you book a doctor’s appointment, it’s of course important to pick the right doctor for your situation, but you also know that you can figure out the details at the appointment. You don’t need to already have your diagnosis and know your treatment plan. That’s something you work out together. Therapy is the same way. Just book the call and we can go from there.

Step 2

Schedule a consult call using either the Jane App or by filling out this form on the website.

Step 3

Prepare yourself for the appointment by ensuring that you are in a comfortable and quiet place to take the call. We get it; life is hectic. It can be tempting to treat a brief phone call like this as just another meeting, something to slot in between biweekly check-ins and project meetings.

We encourage you to resist this temptation. Therapy is your chance to finally reflect on your life and mental health. You deserve to take the time and space for not only this call, but every therapy session in the future. Make sure that you are available—mentally and physically—to engage with your potential therapist.

Step 4

Take the call.

The purpose of this call is partly so the therapist can get a feel for who you are and what you might need out of therapy. Be open and honest. There are no right answers, and honesty will give you the best chance of finding the right therapist for you.

This is also your chance to get a sense of your therapist. Come prepared with questions you want to ask and be ready for it to not be the right fit. You can use our guide in the first blog to help you prepare some questions you might want to ask.

Step 5

Commit to therapy. Your therapist will walk through the next steps with you. Your job is to be open and ready to do the work.

That’s it! It’s really not that hard to get the ball rolling. If you’re ready to take the next steps, follow the link here or head to this page to read through our therapist’s bios.