When getting to therapy feels harder than the therapy itself

Wanting help and managing to arrange it are not the same thing. Naming the practical obstacle, sometimes with a loved one's help, can make the first step smaller.

The gap between wanting help and booking it

Someone can know they would like support and still not manage to pick up the phone. The obstacles are often ordinary: worry about fees, appointment times that clash with work or school runs, a home language other than English, or fumbling for the opening words. Pinpointing which of these is in the way is a genuinely useful first move.

Family members frequently notice the struggle before the person does. A sister, partner or friend offering to sit nearby while a call is made can turn an overwhelming task into a manageable one.

Practical questions are welcome

Besides needling, Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, who is qualified in psychotherapy as well, chats with clients in Lane Cove; questions about logistics are welcome long before anyone commits. You might ask about fees, available times, whether sessions are face to face, and any arrangements that matter for you. Overwhelmed at the thought of telling the whole story? Scribble one worry on a sticky note and hand that over. Clarity about the practical side can ease the next step without requiring you to sign up for an open-ended run of appointments.

Shaping the work around you

Psychological support should reflect your priorities from the very start. Bring up what puzzles you, which habits feel immovable and how a better week might actually look. Christine can explain when you will both pause to check direction, and whom to ring should a rough patch arrive between visits.

• One practical question about access.
• One concern, however small.
• One person who could support you in making contact.

Making the first step smaller

Support does not have to begin with a grand decision. Sometimes it starts with a single question answered clearly. If the practical side has been holding you back, contacting the Lane Cove clinic to ask is a perfectly good place to begin.