Financial strain and stigma keep families from seeking counseling
Many families delay seeking counseling not because they don’t care, but because fear, financial pressure and stigma make access to support feel out of reach. In this expert interview, counselor Bob Ranieri explains how financial barriers, instability and judgment continue to shape who gets help — and who doesn’t.
Families experiencing instability often delay seeking counseling not because they do not care, but because fear, financial pressure and uncertainty can make access to support feel out of reach, according to counselor Bob Ranieri.
Ranieri, who works with individuals and couples, said communication breakdown is one of the most common challenges he encounters.
“One of the big challenges is sometimes they’re afraid of talking about what they’re going through for fear they might be judged,”
That hesitation, he explained, can prevent families from seeking support until problems escalate.
Financial barriers limit access to care
Beyond stigma, economic pressure often determines whether families can pursue counseling. Ranieri said many individuals face competing obstacles — including cost, transportation, childcare responsibilities and limited job flexibility — that make consistent care difficult.
“That’s normally a big, big issue there, because a lot of times they don’t have the funds to either get further education or to provide babysitting services so that they can… get better jobs and increase their family income”
National research supports that concern. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that cost, lack of insurance coverage and limited provider availability remain among the most common barriers preventing people from accessing mental health services.
The American Psychological Association similarly reports that financial strain and perceived stigma are consistently among the top reasons people delay or avoid seeking mental health care.
Stability shapes family outcomes
Ranieri said housing and financial stability are closely tied to a parent’s ability to support their children and maintain consistency in the home.
“That becomes a big issue because their concern is providing for their family. And if they can’t do that, basically, they’re very untethered,”
He emphasized that many families experiencing instability did not choose those circumstances.
“It’s not something that they voluntarily found themselves in. It’s something that happened to them,” Ranieri said.
“And basically, we should try to find ways to help them get through the process.”
A need for better-informed solutions
Ranieri said meaningful progress requires listening to the lived experiences of families rather than relying on assumptions or generalized solutions.
“Then they have to rely on their own, and they may not be in a position to be able to address some of the issues going forward,” he said.
He added that effective support systems must reflect the realities families face on the ground, including financial limitations, access gaps and the emotional burden that often accompanies instability.
Life on the Streets After Florida’s Anti-Camping Law
Florida’s new anti-camping law is pushing homeless residents deeper into instability. This follow-up report documents how seniors, veterans, and working people are being displaced, fined, and left without options — in their own communities.
Florida’s new anti-camping law is reshaping daily survival for people experiencing homelessness across Brevard County. Nearly 70% of the county’s homeless population is unsheltered, and many describe being repeatedly pushed out of public places simply for trying to rest or stay safe. In our earlier investigation, individuals like Tina and Tony described being trespassed, displaced, and woken up by police even during storms. As Anthony explained, “With the police, it does sometimes seem like they kind of bully you a little… they push you around.”
The stigma is clear to those living it, “You can tell homelessness is not something that’s accepted in society.” When asked what they wished the public understood, the response was immediate: “A lot of it is a mental illness. It really is… they cannot function in this society.”
Their lived experience reflects what research confirms: mental illness, trauma, and constant displacement make stability nearly impossible. According to national and state-level studies, criminalization increases harm and public cost, while housing and treatment reduce homelessness.
Florida’s Anti-Camping Law (HB 1365) goes even further, allowing residents and businesses to sue counties if they do not remove people from public spaces—even when no shelter beds exist. As our interviewee described, the result is forced displacement and a direct pipeline into an expensive, for-profit jail system.
The data is undeniable, but the stories are human. As the closing line of the interview emphasized:
“The data is clear. The stories are human. The crisis is preventable. Every law, every statistic, every policy affects a real human life.”