Therapy is Hard Work - by Sara Beckham, MDiv, MACLP, LPC-Associate

Let’s be honest. I love being lazy. Before I had a child, I proudly took at least one day a week to lay in bed and binge-watch

whatever show or movie caught my eye. These days, life looks a little different. Now, after my daughter’s tucked in for the night, I

savor those quiet moments of stillness like gold. I love rest. I love sleep. And I still love being lazy—whenever I can get away with

it.

Lately, though, I’ve noticed a pattern that’s been weighing on my mind. Some clients come in for a few sessions, then disappear—

no email, no cancellation, just radio silence. Honestly, I’ve been ghosted more times than I care to admit. So, in true therapist

fashion, I brought this to my therapist. “Is it me?” I asked. “Am I saying something wrong? Do I smell?”

Thankfully, he reassured me that this trend isn’t unique to me. He’s seeing it too. That made me even more curious. So, I did a little

digging.

According to a 2020 report by Mental Health America (1) , Texas ranked 51st in access to mental health care. That means

insurance coverage, affordability, and other access-related issues are major barriers here. It’s a systemic problem. But here’s

where things get interesting.

In January 2025, Bank of America noted a shift in consumer habits 2 : people are spending less on luxury goods and more on

luxury services. Think massages, facials, and spa days. And you know what? I get it. Luxury services feel amazing. A massage or a

pedicure can make my entire week. There’s something comforting about sitting back, letting someone else take over, and walking

out feeling pampered and refreshed. But—and this is a big but—those services are short-term. They’re a lovely escape, not a

lasting solution.

Therapy, on the other hand? It’s work. Hard, emotional, sometimes uncomfortable work. You don’t get to just lie down and let

someone else fix things for you. You show up. You dig deep. You stretch your mind. And while the process might take months,

even years, the results can last a lifetime.

I’ve worked with three different therapists over the years, and each one helped me grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the

time. The insights I gained and the healing I experienced still show up in my daily life. That’s the beauty of long-term emotional

work—it sticks with you.

So yes, it’s tempting to choose a spa day over a therapy session. One is relaxing and easy; the other is challenging and, at times,

exhausting. But here’s the truth: the work you put into therapy today can lead to healing that lasts far beyond any glow-up from a

facial.

The journey is tough, no doubt. But it’s also worth it.

(1) https://mhanational.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-State-of-Mental-Health-in-America-Report.pdf

(2) https://institute.bankofamerica.com/economic-insights/luxury-spending.html