People have mixed opinions about therapy. Personally, I think everybody could benefit from going to therapy, myself included. I’m a Community Psychology minor, which means I’ve been studying different therapeutic techniques and theories used for different mental illnesses. That may make me biased, but what’s the harm in having an additional support system?

That being said, the only direct exposure I’ve had to therapy was visiting with a graduate student in the Community Psychology program once a week my junior year of college. The reason I met one-on-one with this graduate student, was because I got extra credit for class and to give them a chance to practice the therapeutic techniques they’d been learning in a realistic setting with a client. I also thought it’d be a good opportunity to explore the root and triggers of my anxiety and depression.

Growing up in the Midwest and coming from a German family, I’m familiar with people bottling up their feelings and getting uncomfortable sharing such intimate details of their personal life with strangers. Some people worry about what others will think if they find out an individual’s going to therapy, and some think the whole profession and concept is pointless. For others, it may simply be the cost holding them back.

In all honesty, the reason I’ve been putting off finding a therapist is because the thought of adding another task to my weekly to-do list is overwhelming and stresses me out. That in itself should be reason enough to look for one, therapists can help teach healthier coping mechanisms for anxiety and stress management.

I’m also poor, I’m a full-time college student working as a waitress and writing tutor, I can’t afford a therapist. At least I don’t think I can, honestly, I don’t know where or how to look for a therapist. I also find the entire insurance process and limitations to be intimidating and confusing so I have no idea which therapists I can and cannot go see.

This post is step one, finding out what resources are available to me and people like me.

On-Campus Counseling

Here is the contact information for St. Cloud State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services

As I mentioned earlier, I had the opportunity to visit with a graduate student studying to be a therapist for one of my classes. Most colleges offer similar opportunities and programs. If you’re nervous about going to therapy, it can be a good way to ease into the process and see what it will be like with a licensed professional. St. Cloud State University also offers Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to any undergrad or graduate student currently enrolled. There, students can utilize individual, group, or couples counseling Mondays through Fridays from 8:00AM-4:30PM.

The staff are all professional counselors all offering different areas of expertise. Most importantly, this service is free to students.

What I should’ve done is take advantage of my campus’s free counseling before the last week of my senior year and then asked those professionals for help finding the best off-campus therapist for me. If you’re reading this in your fall semester or anytime not right before graduation, I’d highly urge you to visit your campus’s counseling center and utilize those resources while you can.

Logging Into Therapy- Counseling Apps

There’s a lot of appeal to receiving therapy and counseling through an app: you can do so from the comfort of your home, it’s easier to fit into a busy schedule, it can be significantly cheaper, it’s less intimidating than walking into a doctor’s office, and there’s the opportunity to try multiple apps until you find one that works for you. To me, it almost sounds too good to be true but is something I’ve always thought about looking into.

I’ve always wondered is if this form of therapy is as effective or beneficial as traditional therapy and how qualified these alleged therapists are.Ultimately, I’d recommend researching any app before you try it to see what the app’s therapists’ qualifications are and what other users have said. When researching the available apps for this post, all of the apps I looked into required the therapists to have a master’s degree or higher in their area of expertise and to have completed all necessary training, licensing, and board exams.

There are a ton of counseling apps out there and not every one may work for you; there may be a trial and error period involved before you find an app and therapist that suits your specific needs.

Depending on the app, users will typically either fill out a questionnaire and then be matched with a therapist based on the answers, or users will live chat with a professional whom then matches you with a therapist based on the conversation and your needs.

From there, users are able to text message, live chat, or video chat with their therapist. Some apps allow unlimited sessions between client and therapist while others have restrictions. For example, Betterhelp allows unlimited communication while Talkspace offers unlimited text chats, but not unlimited live chat or video sessions. If you feel like the therapist you were assigned isn’t working effectively or you’re unhappy for any reason, there is the opportunity to switch counselors at no cost. Betterhelp posts all user reviews, positive and negative, about their licensed therapists which may make it easier to find a therapist that suits you.

This chart comes from verywellmind.com and is highlighting the features of different counseling apps

The most appealing aspect of in-counseling is the cost. Traditional therapy can range between $50-$250 per one-hour session. On average, in-app counseling can range between $30-$100 per week, with unlimited sessions; services can be paid for with any major credit card.

For additional information about the available mental health and counseling apps, Onlinetherapyreviews.com and verywellmind.com offer some helpful reviews and recommendations from users that have tested these apps and medical professionals.

Call Your Mom for Help- Have a Support System

As I mentioned earlier, I find the entire insurance process confusing. As embarrassing as it is, I couldn’t even tell you what insurance I currently have. To start answering these questions, I’d have to call my mom. What I’m trying to say is that I won’t be able to do this process alone, I’ll need my support system.

Having a good support system is incredibly important and beneficial. A support system can be any team of people that you can reach out to when you’re struggling, however, a support system shouldn’t replace a therapist.

The support system is there to help and uplift you through the process; for example, I may ask my roommate to have a movie night after an emotionally draining session of therapy, but I wouldn’t tell her the details of the session or try to make my problems her problems. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t discuss your emotional needs or unpleasant feelings with your support system, because that is healthy, but therapists will be more qualified and equipped to really help you work through specific conflicts.

Let’s face it, mental illness is a lot to deal with and therapy is expensive. However, there are resources available to make living with mental illness a little easier. Check out what kinds of counseling services are available on your campus or consider in-app counseling if traditional therapy is too intimidating or expensive. If you’re financially able, consider calling your doctor for information on available mental health services or call your insurance company to find out which therapists would be covered, thus cheaper.