Alternatives to Therapy if you Can't Afford the High Fees
Talk therapy can benefit almost everyone, and with all the bad news we are exposed to daily, it can be a life saver in stressful and turbulent times. But just because most of us could benefit from having someone to discuss our problems with doesn't mean therapy is accessible to everyone. Let's face it, therapy can be expensive, even with insurance (if you are lucky enough to have insurance that covers it).
Many online and in-person therapy alternatives can help you get the support and tools you need to navigate difficult times. I tried many of the self-help support groups mentioned here, and each appealed to me differently. If you try self-help support groups, I recommend you attend at least six or seven different ones (I attended ten) to see which is the best fit for you.
You want to find a group where the program suits you. For example, twelve steps may not be a good fit for you, because even if it’s the most common type, it’s not the only one. You also want to find one where you feel comfortable participating to gain the most tools and benefits. Even considering those two things, there does seem to be a group available for just about everyone.
All of these groups are easily found with searches online. An excellent resource for finding meetings seven days a week is shareselfhelp.org. You can click on each day of the week, and there will be a list of sessions for that day, both in-person and online (most are still online). I clicked on Monday, and twenty-two different meetings popped up. Some examples are Underearners Anonymous (UA), Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA), Recovery International, Toastmasters and others.
Some meetings are faith-based twelve-step programs, and others use a similar format to the twelve steps but are not faith-based. Then there are ones with a completely different format. Recovery International is unlike any of the other meetings I attended. It was founded in 1937 by neuropsychiatrist Dr. Abraham Low, and the program works with his writings that he developed by working with patients.
Of all the meetings I attended, Underearners Anonymous and Recovery International worked the best for me. I'm confident I would also enjoy Toastmasters because they help you develop public speaking and leadership skills, which would greatly benefit me. Each of us have different needs, so your favorites might look very different to mine.
Of course, the shareselfhelp.org website doesn't list every self-help group available. There are groups for people living with schizophrenia, grief support groups, chronic illness support groups, and almost every type of group you might want or need. For groups not listed on the Share! Website, type in your area of interest (moms, Parents Without Partners, cancer, etc.) and the word "group" and see what comes up.
Not one of the groups I attended cost money. Many had a suggested donation of five dollars, but it wasn't required to participate or attend. Unlike individual therapy, self-help groups are accessible to almost everyone who has a computer or the means to get to a group in-person. Self-help groups can help build community, build skills to deal with everyday frustrations, obstacles, addictions and moods, and give you the support you may find you need to change your life.
Rebecca Chamaa is a freelance writer, workshop instructor, and graduate student at Columbia University. She calls sunny Southern California her home.
