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People tend to resist therapy, like most activities that involve change. The idea of picking up and moving, seeking a new job or even changing the route you travel on your way into work can be enough to stress you out. When fear, worry, and anxiety is standing in the way of a person seeking therapeutic help or hindering a patient’s current progress, it is important to create a consistent motivation for therapy. Let’s discuss how.

Create a “Why” for Therapy

If a patient doesn’t understand the motivation (or lack thereof) for therapy, it is going to be difficult for that person to sustain treatment. There’s a silly old saying that rings somewhat true in this regard…”How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one – but the light bulb has to really want to change.” Even if every loved one in a person’s life is motivating him/her to seek therapy, it is important that the why is understood in order for treatment to help.

Patients should find meaning within the journey. This can be accomplished by thinking beyond the immediate relief of ridding the “problem” and focusing on the root of the concerns. Creating motivation for therapy can be as simple as asking, “Why do you want to get rid of those behaviors? What do you feel like you’ve lost or missed out on due to them? What will you gain when the behaviors are gone? Why would your loved ones encourage you to seek therapy?

Target Unhelpful Patterns of Thinking While Encouraging Mindfulness

Cognitive restructuring is a method of Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that awakens someone’s motivation to change by targeting unhelpful patterns of thinking. As we mentioned, identifying why a difficult situation causes feelings of anxiety can alter our thought process and allow us to introduce more helpful methods for overcoming the issue at hand. When a difficult situation arises that would normally result in feelings of helplessness or despair, it’s important to remember that the mind can be trained to think and behave differently in response to a crisis.

Mindfulness is a skill that allows people to connect with the present moment, rather than getting swept away in overwhelming emotions. Of course, learning to be mindful is easier said than done, but it is a worthwhile practice that can be utilized in everyday life to increase awareness and ultimately reshape the lives of those who feel like spectators in their own minds. If you can encourage someone in need to cultivate mindfulness, it often leads to a change in perspective that can increase motivation for therapy.

Ready for a Therapy Assessment? Take the First Step with CBT Solutions of Baltimore

Our various approaches to address fear, worry, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum conditions work best with a  strong commitment to change, as well as courage, humility, and perseverance. Discover your inherent strength – call CBT Solutions today at 443-470-9815! We welcome you to learn more about our assessment/consultation process here.