How to Get Someone to Go to Therapy

October 30, 2024 | By Kindbridge

Are you concerned about the emotional and mental wellbeing of a loved one? Are you convinced that the only way out of their rut and potentially harmful behavior is to see a therapist? Given that previous well-intentioned general advice has fallen on deaf ears, you’re concerned that any recommendation to seek professional help will be met with resistance and agitation. This has you scrambling for insight into how to get someone to go therapy.

The expression “tread lightly” may very well apply to this circumstance better than any. If uttered in the wrong tone the mere suggestion may position you as being self-righteous and sanctimonious. And on that note, introspection may first be required to ensure that you’re not projecting anything on them. While everyone can benefit from counseling, if you suspect that they are struggling with something specific, perform due-diligence before attempting to influence them. Research signs and symptoms of issues and disorders that you feel may be present. Kindbridge has provided a number of resources that you can use for reference, including the following:

By understanding the signs and symptoms of each you may justify suspicions and be better positioned to talk to your loved one about it.

With all of the above out of the way we can now get to your question about how to get someone to go to therapy. The following tips come with pre-qualifiers, so be sure to take note of each before proceeding where applicable.

4 Ways to Encourage Someone You’re Concerned About to See a Therapist

Tell Them About Your Own Experience with Therapy

Your firm belief that therapy will be of service to your loved one infers that you may have some successful experience with it yourself. If so, and your partner, spouse, family member, or close friend does not know much about your experience, consider confiding in them.

Given that varying behavioral and mental health concerns share symptoms (sleeplessness, irritability, moodiness, lethargy, etc.) you can share with them the ones you experienced in the past that align with what you may have noticed with them in present day. Then, proceed to tell them how counseling was able to break the grip that these symptoms (and the overlaying condition) had on your life. In doing so without actually telling them that they have a problem, they may come to their own conclusions about their behaviors/feelings and how therapy may provide relief.

Suggest that You Both Give Individual Therapy a Try (and actually do it)

If you are not currently in counseling, you have an opportunity to benefit while encouraging your loved one to embark upon the experience too. The timing could not be better, as there’s an exciting trend sweeping across the United States. Wellness-conscious individuals and households are adding therapy to their longevity strategies. They are looking towards counseling not as a solution to an existing issue, per se, but as a part of their preventive health plans. This presents you with an opportunity to introduce the idea of therapy to them as you would any membership program for improving health and fitness.

Position it as a means to improve mindfulness and mindset to optimize your respective lives and productivity like elite athletes and other professionals do. Once they are in counseling, a therapist will be able to extract thoughts, feelings, and emotions from them, and they will begin to open up about those struggles that caused your concern for them in the first place.

It’s something that you “join” together, but individually. The caveat, if not already clear, is that you will partake in therapy too. You needn’t commit beyond a schedule that you’re comfortable with, but there’s a very good chance that the personal growth you will experience will prove itself worthwhile. That is the beneficial side effect of helping your close friend or family member.

Ask Them to Join You in Couples/Family Counseling

If the person you’re concerned about is a partner, spouse, sibling, child, or parent you can encourage them to enter into therapy by doing it together via couples or family counseling, as applicable.

Don’t position it as “You need therapy, I will participate with you”. Instead, something such as “I think we could really benefit from counseling, and would be grateful if we could do it together” is far less threatening. From this point, let them know that you have done the research and found a great option for couples (here) or family counseling (here). In this scenario, they may feel as if they are being called upon to help in your time of need. They will be less defensive and may soon come to realize that their actions and behaviors are having a negative impact on their loved ones, beginning with you.

Give Them the Gift of Virtual Therapy

Have you had a casual discussion about counseling with a loved one in the past, and they expressed interest but also expressed an unwillingness to pay for it? All that it may take to convince them is for you to pay for the first session or first month of sessions, if you’re in the financial position to do so.

There are a variety of subscription plans to reference here. These plans are for easily accessible and convenient online and telehealth therapy services. Virtual therapy is less “intimidating” for someone who may be standoffish at first, and is therefore the perfect gateway to getting the help they need. Decide upon what you can cover from these plans and write a thoughtful note (in a card) to let your loved one know that you’re ready to invest in their wellness. Sit down together to book their very first session.

We hope that you found these tips for how to get someone to go to therapy useful. When ready, sit together with your loved one and connect to Kindbridge to initiate the very first session.