Casual Commitment is Ruining Therapy
Therapy is becoming increasingly more accessible: No commute, logging on from home, flexible scheduling from thousands of therapists, and sometimes a waived co-pay. While these conveniences have benefits, they have also contributed to a new trend in psychotherapy: “lukewarm” or “casual” commitment.
Multitasking during session. Venting without taking accountability. Texting a stranger on an app offering “therapy.” Lying in bed, pajamas on, eating a snack. Waking up 5 minutes beforehand. “Talking” to Chat GPT. None of these are true psychotherapy. But it’s not always the client’s fault. Therapists have contributed to these trends taking over the profession by allowing them. And we have human psychology’s natural influence over these actions.
Maybe you’re familiar with these psychological and economic concepts we unknowingly participate in, and their relation to therapy:
The “Effort Justification” Principle: We assign more value to outcomes that require effort, cost, or sacrifice to obtain. Someone who saves up for therapy or invests emotionally in the process is more likely to perceive it as meaningful.
Perceived Value Effect, sometimes called Zero Price Effect: When something is free or deeply discounted, people often perceive it as less valuable—even if the quality is the same. Conversely, when they pay for it, even a modest amount, they feel more invested and treat it with greater care. Clients with a $0 copay might unconsciously treat therapy as less urgent or meaningful, while those paying even $20 per session may be more consistent and engaged.
When we invest time, energy, or money into something, our brains naturally assign it more value. When therapy feels effortless to access or is completely free, it can unintentionally lower commitment, even when the desire to heal is genuine.
Therapy doesn’t have to be inconvenient to be meaningful. However, it does require intention. True healing deepens when clients treat therapy as a dedicated space rather than a quick check-in between tasks. The act of showing up—on time, with presence, and with curiosity—is itself a form of self-respect and self-investment in the process. In the end, commitment isn’t about where therapy happens, but about how fully we choose to participate in our own growth.
This isn’t a condemnation of online therapy or a guilt trip if you’re lucky and have a $0 co-pay, but rather a call to make a greater commitment to the entire therapeutic process. Show up with true intention and treat virtual sessions with the same considerations as in-person office visits.
If you’ve been struggling to stay engaged in virtual therapy, consider scheduling a consultation to explore in-person sessions.
