Forget “new year, new you.” This isn’t about grand resolutions or becoming someone completely different. It’s about choosing, in a calm and sustainable way, to start living more fully in the life you already have.
The start of a new year often creates a natural pause. A moment where people take stock of their lives and quietly ask themselves big and sometimes difficult questions. Am I living in a way that feels right for me? How can I stop repeating the same patterns? Why does life feel harder than it needs to?
For many people, this reflection is followed by good intentions. Maybe this will be the year things change. Maybe this will be the year I finally address what I have been carrying for a long time. And yet, weeks pass, routines return, and the moment slips away. Not because people do not care, but because change can feel uncertain, uncomfortable and expensive.
This blog is an invitation to pause again. Not to pressure yourself into becoming a completely new person, but to consider whether now might be the right time to invest in yourself through counselling or therapy in a way that is thoughtful, affordable, and sustainable.
Why people hesitate about starting therapy
Most people who think about therapy do not dismiss it lightly. The hesitation is usually thoughtful and understandable.
One of the biggest concerns is the cost of therapy. Counselling can feel like an open ended commitment, with no clear sense of how long it will last or what the total cost might be. When sessions are framed as a weekly or monthly expense, it can quickly feel overwhelming, especially alongside rent, bills, family responsibilities, or the general cost of living.
There is also fear. Fear of opening things up emotionally and not knowing where that will lead. Fear of spending money and discovering that therapy does not help. Fear of needing support in a culture that often values coping quietly and carrying on.
These concerns are common, and they make sense. But they can also keep people stuck far longer than they intend.
Reframing therapy as an investment in yourself
One helpful shift is to stop thinking about therapy as an ongoing expense, and to start thinking about it as a time limited investment in yourself.
Many people attend therapy for a focused period rather than indefinitely. For example, if a session costs £30 and you attend around 20 sessions over six months, the total cost is around £600.
£600 is not insignificant. But when you step back, it is worth asking what that investment offers. Greater emotional understanding. Healthier relationships. Less time feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected. Skills and insight that continue to shape how you live long after therapy has ended.
Most of us spend money on things that are gone once the money is spent. Meals out, subscriptions, short term comforts, distractions that offer relief but little lasting change. Therapy is different. It is an investment that stays with you, influencing how you think, relate, and respond to life.
You get one life. Therapy offers a real opportunity to live it with more clarity, freedom, and intention.
The cost of waiting and the train metaphor
Many people tell themselves they will start therapy later. When work is calmer. When the children are older. When things feel less intense. Waiting can feel like the sensible option.
But emotional patterns rarely stand still. They tend to repeat, deepen, and quietly shape more of our lives over time.
A useful metaphor is missing your stop on a train. At first, staying on feels easier than dealing with the disruption of getting off. But the longer you remain on the train, the further you travel from where you intended to be. Eventually, returning takes more time, energy, and effort.
The sooner you decide to get off the train, the closer you are to where you want to be. Making a decision to start counselling earlier often means less unpicking later, fewer entrenched patterns, and less emotional weight carried forward.
Therapy frequency, affordability, and why sustainability matters
Many people feel drawn to private therapy with fully qualified counsellors. This is understandable. Experience matters, and private practice can feel reassuring.
However, private therapy fees are often double the cost of more accessible services. As a result, clients may choose to attend sessions fortnightly rather than weekly, or stop therapy earlier than planned because the cost becomes difficult to sustain.
Research consistently shows that therapy frequency matters, particularly in the early stages of counselling. Weekly sessions are associated with stronger therapeutic relationships, greater momentum, and faster progress. Less frequent sessions can slow the work, make it harder to stay emotionally connected, and increase the likelihood of dropping out before meaningful change is felt.
This is not about a lack of commitment from clients. It is about whether the structure of therapy is realistic for everyday life.
The most effective therapy is the therapy you can stay with.
Why counsellors in training can be a safe and effective option
At Hammock Counselling, our counsellors in training are a very safe and reliable option for many clients.
They are highly talented and carefully selected by Tom and Ed for their emotional maturity, clinical ability, reflective depth, and commitment to ethical practice. They are not assigned clients automatically. Each counsellor is chosen because they show the capacity to offer thoughtful, sensitive, and attuned support.
Our counsellors in training are also exceptionally well supported. They receive regular, high quality supervision from experienced and accredited supervisors. This means your work is continually thought about, reflected on, and held within a wider professional framework, rather than resting on one person alone.
Their client loads are intentionally kept low. This allows them to focus carefully on the people they work with, to prepare thoughtfully for sessions, and to reflect deeply between appointments. In contrast, many private practitioners hold far larger caseloads and may have less frequent supervision due to time and financial pressures.
Affordability does not come at the cost of care. It comes from working differently, prioritising sustainability, supervision, and relational depth.
Affordable does not mean cheap
There is an important distinction between ‘affordable’ therapy and ‘cheap’ therapy.
Affordable therapy is sustainable. It allows you to attend regularly without constant financial anxiety. It supports consistency, depth, and trust over time.
Therapy should still feel like an investment; something that matters and something that feels financially valued by you. It should feel intentional rather than disposable. Choosing a service that is accessible does not mean you are taking yourself or your wellbeing less seriously.
In fact, choosing something you can realistically commit to is often the most responsible and self respecting option.
Why now is a meaningful time to start counselling
There is rarely a perfect moment to begin therapy. Life does not slow down neatly, and challenges do not wait for ideal conditions.
The new year simply offers a psychological marker. A chance to notice patterns, reflect on what is no longer working, and choose to do something different.
You do not need to commit to therapy forever. You only need to decide to start. To give yourself a period of focused attention, support, and care.
Investing in yourself is not indulgent. It is practical. It is often the foundation for healthier relationships, clearer decisions, and a more grounded sense of self.
If you have been thinking about counselling, perhaps for months or even years, this may be the time to take that step.
If you have questions or would like to talk things through before deciding, you are very welcome to contact Tom and Ed for an informal conversation.
Taking the first step does not mean committing to therapy long term. It simply means booking an initial assessment with one of our friendly, qualified, and experienced counsellors, who will help you think about what you need and whether counselling feels right for you at this point. Not because everything must change overnight, but because you deserve a life that feels more fully lived.
Frequently asked questions about counselling and therapy
If you are considering counselling, it is normal to have practical questions alongside emotional ones. Below are some of the most common questions people ask when thinking about starting therapy.
How long does counselling usually last?
Counselling is not always open ended. Many people attend therapy for a focused period, often between 12 and 24 sessions, depending on what they want to work on. This is something you can discuss openly with your counsellor, and it can be reviewed as you go. We also explain this in more detail on our dedicated page about how counselling works.
How often should I attend therapy?
Most people benefit from weekly counselling sessions, particularly at the beginning. Regular sessions help build trust, maintain momentum, and support meaningful change. Some people move to less frequent sessions later on, once the work is more established. We cover this in more depth on our counselling approach page.
Is affordable therapy actually effective?
Yes. The effectiveness of therapy depends far more on the quality of the relationship, consistency, and support structures than on price alone. Affordable therapy allows people to attend regularly and stay engaged, which is a key factor in positive outcomes. You can read more about this on our page explaining our model of counselling.
Are counsellors in training safe to work with?
Counsellors in training can be a very safe and effective option when they are carefully selected, well supervised, and supported within a strong clinical framework. At Hammock Counselling, our counsellors in training are hand picked and closely supervised, with low client loads so they can focus fully on their clients. More information about this can be found on our counsellors in training page.
If you have further questions, you may find it helpful to explore the additional information pages on our website, or to get in touch to discuss whether counselling feels right for you at this point in your life.
Wishing you all a very peaceful New Year.
Ed
(Hammock co-founder & private practice therapist)