From The Sopranos to Frasier, TV loves a therapist. At home, everyone from AFL players to everyday Aussies now talks openly about getting help. But with mental ill-health affecting almost half of us, the real question is: is therapy actually worth it?
The short answer: yes — but only if you approach it properly.
Therapy is not a quick fix. It’s an investment, not an expense. And like any investment, the return depends on timing, commitment, and choosing the right professional.
Therapy works — the research is rock-solid
Across Australia, mental health issues now account for a massive share of our disease burden. Roughly one in three GP visits involve anxiety, stress or mood issues. Yet psychotherapy remains one of the most effective interventions we have — often outperforming medical treatments we take for granted.
When therapy works, people think more clearly, feel more settled, make better decisions, sleep more deeply and regain control. These aren’t abstract improvements: brain imaging shows real neurological changes, and measurable indicators — panic-free days, improved functioning, reduced symptoms — back it up.
But trauma therapy is not for the faint-hearted
Under a Mental Health Care Plan, you may receive 6 sessions, then a review, then 4 more — often capped across 12 months. That’s a helpful start, but real trauma work takes honesty about your limits:
- family, study or work commitments
- whether you’re in a safe and stable environment
- whether your nervous system can stay within a workable window of tolerance
Big-T traumas (accidents, assaults, life-threatening events) can often shift in fewer sessions.
Little-t traumas (chronic neglect, emotional abuse, long-term instability) can take much longer — sometimes 12 months or up to 30 sessions. It depends on readiness, stability, and your ability to practice skills between appointments.
Therapy is best done in episodes
Practices like Artemis Psychology often recommend focusing on a few key memories or issues at a time, then pausing to consolidate — rather than pushing through a massive block of therapy all at once. These “episodes of care” allow you to learn tools, step back, practice them, and return when you’re ready for deeper work.
Choosing the right therapist still matters
Stick to evidence-based modalities — those recommended by AHPRA-registered psychologists, or by credible bodies like PACFA and ACA. Ask about their training, supervision, and outcomes. Therapy works best when you’re matched with the right person, the right approach, and the right timing.
The payoff
Therapy requires time, money, emotional effort and commitment — but the benefits are profound:
- stronger self-awareness
- clearer decision-making
- better boundaries
- more resilience
- problem-solving skills that last for life
Done well, therapy helps you align your choices with your values, leading to greater clarity, purpose and fulfilment.
If you’re ready, motivated, and work with a qualified professional, therapy is absolutely worth it — for most people, most of the time, and for most problems.
