In Canada, we have become accustomed to subsidized health care, which translates into a cultural norm that we practice ourselves until we break, then we go to the doctor and receive treatment. Our public health system has failed to meet these needs and has been the subject of much debate and controversy over the privatization of health care. Seems the collective would like to keep things the same we don't really want to be burdened with the high cost of healthcare put us straight forward we like the pay every month approach take what you need and give what you can, it seems to appeal to a "fairness" consciousness.
But what about counseling, where does that fit into our healthcare plan? Counseling and therapy are paid for by health care if you are truly battling suicide or serious mental illness, through community mental health services. Some large employers now have a group insurance plan commonly known as the Employee Assistance Plan or P.A.E. whereby you are subsidized for a limited number of sessions with a licensed psychologist or clinical counsellor. If you are having personal difficulties, this is an accessible resource and you do not have to pay directly out of pocket. Of course, you pay for this type of group coverage out of your earnings, and some may never take advantage of this service, which is really how insurance works.
But for people who are not covered by this type of plan because either your employer does not subscribe, or you are self-employed, or you do not work outside the home, paying for advice can be a stopping point to make the first appointment.
So why pay for advice?
Paying for advice is an investment in yourself, which for many is a huge hurdle in itself. If we recognize that within ourselves we suffer from low self-esteem or low self-esteem, then we are stuck in a limited mindset about ourselves that prevents us from placing ourselves in first in order of paying bills. The self-limiting beliefs that keep us from stepping forward to invest money in our self-knowledge and self-understanding are hard to overcome, and yet we instinctively know that unless we change within ourselves , the patterns of our lives will remain the same.
The biggest challenge in paying money for therapy or counseling is the resulting anxiety when thinking about doing it. Every time we decide to make a change, our being, which works so hard to maintain homeostasis, rebels against that change, usually in the form of fear. Fear is experienced within ourselves as anxiety, discomfort, nervousness, powerful feelings to convince us to do nothing or try harder without paid outside support. Underlying beliefs about money surface, our awareness of poverty comes alive and may come to the fore with thoughts such as: I can't afford to pay to talk to someone. How am I going to pay for this… Maybe I should give something up. What about my family members, Suzy said she needed new shoes etc.
Our beliefs about money come from the family we were raised in and from those attitudes. Children know all too well the stress that parents have about money, and if there will be enough of it at the end of the month, these attitudes can emerge from a family living near the poverty line, from the classroom middle, upper middle class, etc. children remember and internalize the feelings surrounding the topic and the conclusion or assumptions that are made about money. A child will do his best there to understand everything that happens in a family. The consciousness of poverty results from the idea that there is not enough for everyone. This idea, assumption, conclusion, mistaken belief, is internalized as "truth" and becomes a belief that we will make true for ourselves again and again.
As adults, we cannot ignore other influences in our lives that challenge our belief systems. When we see other people living lives of abundance, feelings of jealousy, envy, and anger can result because we simply don't understand why others have more than we do. If we are used to condemning ourselves or having this critical mind that limits our abilities, we will fight with our feelings and learn coping strategies.
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