Fast Food or Steak Dinner? What Kind of Therapy Are You Really Getting?

“I tried one of those online therapy apps and even AI. It helped a little, but something about it just felt... thin. Like it scratched the surface, but didn’t really help.”

In today’s world, we’re used to getting what we want fast: food, entertainment, packages, even connection. So it makes sense that therapy has followed the trend. With a few clicks, you can now be matched with a therapist, get automated check-ins, or even talk to an AI that mimics a counselor. And while these tools can have value, they raise an important question:

What kind of help are we actually settling for?

Here’s a simple way to look at it: fast food vs. steak dinner.

Fast food therapy, like some large online platforms or AI-based tools, is quick, accessible, and sometimes cheaper. You can stay in your pajamas. It gets the job done… kind of. You leave feeling temporarily satisfied. But deep down, you know it’s not nourishing you. You don’t really feel known. You’re not building anything over time.

Dine-in therapy is different.

It takes more commitment. You sit down. You slow down. There’s a relationship, a rhythm. You’re not just dropping in for symptom relief; you’re engaging in a real process of change and being known. With a real person who tracks your story, holds context, and walks with you, not just for a session or two, but over time.

That kind of work creates safety. And safety helps people go beyond surface-level coping and into the deeper work of transformation: identity, relationships, trauma recovery, boundaries, emotional fluency, meaning, and more.

Real therapy is relational. It’s built over time. It’s not about quick advice or short-term symptom relief. But if you want depth, healing that sticks, and the experience of being truly seen and heard, not just responded to, it may be time for something more substantial.

Therapy at New Life isn’t drive-thru. It’s not scripted. It’s human. And it’s grounded in a real relationship that grows over time, with someone who’s invested in your story and your growth.

If you’ve ever felt like your current support system only scratches the surface… that your pain or questions deserve more than just a quick fix… then maybe it’s time for a different kind of work. One that honors your pace, your depth, and your dignity.  

We're here for you.

Mark Gomez

Graduate Student Intern

Supervised by Leah Wilson Walker, LPC-S #13143

markgomez@nlcc1.com

816-390-4448