Top 3 tips to take into therapy
“Everyone is just trying to cope in the best way they know with what they know. So if we can change that knowledge and increase that knowledge and encourage that knowledge, than we can give people more options and then they choose from that toolkit to help them thrive.”
We understand therapy doesn't always feel very accessible. Here are 3 tips to help.
1. What can you afford?
If finance is a barrier to access therapy, ask your prospective therapist whether they offer a sliding scale model. Depending on your income they might be able to offer a more affordable hourly rate. It’s also worth looking into what your EAP might provide - more and more are offering coverage for therapy/counselling including Hospitality Action and Perkbox (depending on what coverage your employer has opted for).
2. Can you find a flexible option?
If time is a barrier to access therapy see whether you can attend an on demand service such as The Self Space. They're open 7 days a week, 7:30am – 9:30pm with over 65 therapists to choose from. They don’t have a waiting list and there is no long and faffy assessment process. Just straightforward therapy in a way that suits you.
If even a flexible option is proving difficult to schedule, perhaps you can speak with your manager to request a similar time off in the rota every week. We understand that this might not be something that feels comfortable, but we recommend scheduling a time to ask your manager outside peak service times to give you both the opportunity to explore the possibility away from the stress of daily tasks. This should (hopefully!) result in an understanding and considered outcome.
3. Can you find a therapist that specialises in hospo folks?
If you want someone who 'gets' the demands of your work then there are therapists that understand our industry! Check out @me_myself_inmind and listen to her wisdom on our podcast episode . We were delighted to meet up with the inspiring London based chef and qualified integrative therapist Merly Kammerling on our most recent episode of Beyond the Pass. Merly is the founder of Me Myself in Mind which provides workshops, one-to-one therapy and group facilitation, specifically for the hospitality industry.
If sitting down with a therapist is ultimately not available to you right now, don’t forget there are listening services out there that are open 7 days a week to catch people who don’t work the regular 9 - 5 such as Switchboard, BEAT, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Audio: "And then you think that the therapist has the cards, right? And has the answers and is going to fix you. But then you realise
'Oh I did.' And it is part of therapeutic journey. Is that you're not being fixed, you're fixing yourself, and that person is just facilitating that for you to be your authentic self."