When Should You See a Therapist? 6 Signs it’s Time + How to Choose the Right One
In this day and age, most of us have either heard of therapy or know people who’ve tried it. But if it’s your first time considering therapy for yourself, it can feel overwhelming, and difficult to know when or if to move forward. Having a dedicated professional in your corner can make a big difference in helping you navigate significant life challenges. While the decision to work with a therapist can feel intimidating, it doesn’t have to be a barrier that stops you from getting help. Our therapists often hear from patients that they start to feel a sense of relief even just by starting to share their experiences with someone else.
If you already have a feeling therapy could help you, we encourage you to trust your gut and book a free intro call now. This call doesn’t commit you to anything – it’s just a way to get started by talking to a member of our team. On your call, we can answer your questions about what working together looks like.
If you’re not sure if it’s time for you to try therapy, read on! We’ve listed six signs it’s time to connect with a therapist and shed light on what you can expect from sessions. We also provide guidance on how to choose the best fit for you, since finding the right therapeutic relationship is an important piece of what makes therapy effective.
6 Signs It’s Time to See a Therapist
1. You’re having a hard time getting through the day
It’s normal for all of us to experience a variety of emotions throughout the day. But if your thoughts and feelings are starting to get in the way of your ability to get through the day, that’s a sign that it’s time to get some support. You may find you’re struggling with so much sadness or lack of motivation that getting out of bed or completing daily tasks feels overwhelming. Alternatively, you might be feeling stressed and anxious, and notice it’s hard to stay present or productive. Sometimes physical symptoms, like stomach aches, can mean having to leave work or school early. These are all signs to start addressing your mental health with the support of a licensed therapist.
2. You feel overwhelmed by your feelings or current environment
Even if your feelings aren’t stopping you from getting through your day, you still might feel burdened by big emotions. This may be due to a pattern of thoughts you have or the environment around you – commonly your home environment, work environment, social groups, or all of the above. If you’re feeling stuck in a cycle of overwhelm but aren’t sure how to get relief or move forward, working with a therapist can help; you can work to better understand what’s happening and start to find a path forward.
3. You want to gain insight into yourself
You may find that there isn’t one specific emotion or stressor present, but you just want to know yourself better. If you get confused by some of your thoughts, patterns, or behaviors, therapy can help untangle those webs. That alone is a valid and noble reason to seek therapy. We all grow up learning certain ways of coping and hearing certain messages. Over time, you may notice areas of your self-understanding that feel lacking. Talking with a professional can help you reflect on and learn more about your thoughts, behaviors, and patterns, working towards a goal of becoming your best self, in line with your values.
4. You’re facing problems that feel impossible to resolve
Whether you’re navigating difficult relationships, family dynamics, perfectionistic thoughts, body image concerns, or other mental health concerns, it’s common to feel hopeless by the idea of finding a way through. These feelings are a big red flag that it’s time to get support. This is especially true if you start to have thoughts about harming yourself or others. Any problem you face is possible to navigate with the right support. It’s often when we try to figure it all out on our own that we feel like there’s no way through. Remember that you don’t have to do this alone. Reach out for help to start working with a therapist who can help you break down your challenges and begin creating solutions, step-by-step.
5. You’ve experienced any kind of trauma
Psychological trauma is a person’s experience of emotional distress resulting from an event that overwhelms their capacity to emotionally process it. Many people seeking support for trauma find themselves wondering if what they experienced “counts” as trauma and whether they even need therapy. While acknowledging that you’ve been through something traumatic can be challenging and painful, starting to talk about it is where healing begins. Our therapists have specialized training in supporting individuals recovering from trauma, which is especially important during the healing process. If you’re unsure whether you’ve experienced trauma, reaching out to our team can be a great first step to better understanding your experience. You can also read our blog post on healing from trauma to learn more.
6. It’s been recommended by someone who cares about you
If you’ve shared with a parent, partner, friend, or even your doctor, that you’re having a tough time, they may have suggested considering therapy. Sometimes, people in our lives recognize signs that we’re struggling before we can see it ourselves. Additionally, some medical providers can help you by screening for signs of mental health conditions during annual visits. If someone who cares about you recommended therapy, consider reaching out.
How can therapy help?
Therapy is about increasing awareness, learning healthy coping skills, and working towards goals that are relevant to your life. Our therapists can help you create manageable goals that lead to symptom reduction and/or elimination, as well as improved mental health and overall wellbeing. From managing stress to processing emotions and experiences, therapy can deepen your understanding of your history and how it has impacted your view of yourself, others, and the world. In particular, it can lead to having a better understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and how they influence different aspects of your life. In therapy, you can explore different, even challenging, parts of yourself to increase self-awareness and help make desired changes possible. Therapy can also help you learn effective communication skills. This can improve how clearly and assertively you communicate with friends, family, or co-workers.
What should I look for in a therapist?
Finding a therapist that’s the right fit for you is incredibly important. Research shows that one of the most important aspects of effective therapy is the therapeutic relationship. Being comfortable with your therapist doesn’t just feel good, it also means that your work with them is more likely to be helpful. Having a good connection with your therapist can help you navigate and share uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or events, providing openings for things to shift in a positive direction. It’s important that therapy is a space where you feel you can share your vulnerabilities, as this will allow you to make progress towards your goals.
To find a therapist who is a good fit for you, start by asking yourself these questions:
- What are you hoping to get out of the experience? (it’s okay not to know at first!)
- Do you prefer in-person or virtual appointments?
- Are you looking for a therapist with a particular identity, style, or treatment approach?
- Are you looking for a therapist with expertise in a certain condition or challenge you’re facing?
What can I expect from therapy?
By working with the right therapist, you can expect to find relief over time. Here are some examples of how therapy works, and what to expect:
- You’ll be listened to with respect and compassion in a safe space.
- At Beyond Measure, we usually see patients for sessions once per week at a regular time. Your first session will be a longer intake appointment, with recurring weekly visits from there.
- You’ll be talking to someone who you can trust with your thoughts and feelings, even the ones you don’t like.
- What’s said is kept confidential, except when very specific exclusions apply, which your therapist will let you know about at the start of your work together.
- You’ll collaborate with your therapist in creating goals and defining what progress means for you.
- If you work with a Beyond Measure therapist, you will have the option to meet in person at our office in Redwood City, or to meet online for a video visit. We provide a comfortable, inviting physical space for in-person visits; for virtual visits, we’ll share a new link to our secure platform for each session. Whichever format you prefer, your job is just to show up.
- Be ready to engage in hard work, but with big rewards. Creating change isn’t always easy and sometimes things feel worse before they get better. But if you can stick through it (with your therapist’s support, of course), the hard work up front is an investment in yourself that pays off big time.
- You’ll start to see progress and relief. We know that therapy is hard, but we also know that it can lead to meaningful progress. Timelines vary for different individuals, goals, and conditions, but as soon as you get started, you’ll be moving closer to your goals.
- You’ll find support in applying what you learn in sessions to day to day life. This often happens through weekly therapy homework assignments. Homework is no one’s favorite activity, but it’s a crucial part of the process. It can be as general as continuing to reflect on things discussed in therapy or as specific as practicing a particular coping skill. No one engages in therapy just to apply skills during their one session per week, so this application in your day-to-day is really where the change happens.
If any of these signs resonated with you, we invite you to take the first step by reaching out today:
Book a free intro call to schedule a time that works for you
Reach out to start
your healing journey today.
your healing journey today.