Do I need therapy?
If you find yourself asking this question the quick and easy answer is yeah you should definitely try therapy. Therapy can be so helpful for so many things.
self awareness
If you are at a place in life where you have enough self-reflection to be asking “do I need therapy” tells me, you are a great candidate for therapy! Think about it, by asking “do I need therapy” you are really saying “am I the best I can be?” Therapy is most beneficial for clients that are motivated to make change and open to potential feedback, in this situation that is you. Regardless of the reason you are thinking about therapy you could benefit from therapy Many people will consider therapy because of past trauma, current stressors, anxiety, depression, or simply because you want to know yourself better. Those are all valid reasons, and there are so many more reasons beyond that. Not all therapy is focused on fixing major mental health symptoms. A lot of therapy is just focused on ways to accomplish normal people goals and create a healthy lifestyle. Many people enjoy therapy simply because it is a place where they come to feel supported, validated, and challenged. Therapists are equipped to help clients with so many things.
prioritize yourself
A lot of times we find ourselves supporting therapy for everyone else in our circle. We say "maybe you should try therapy" anytime someone else is struggling. We see the amazing changes they make and applaud them for having the courage and dedication to attend therapy. It is so great that we can encourage others to care for themselves, but what if we cared for ourselves in that way too. Unfortunately for many people they never get to experience that same growth for themselves because we believe “things aren’t that bad” or “I have made it through worse.” Often times we see therapy as a last resort, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Things do not need to be literally burning before you start therapy! Pro tip, it’s actually easier if they aren’t. So many people see a therapist once a month just to maintain and check-in. That way when things do start to get hot they have support and maybe it won’t start a fire the next time around.
get connected with a therapist
Additionally, a lot of therapists are booked up and are not currently taking new clients. This means that if you wait until things are truly on fire you may still have a 2-6 month wait to get started with a therapist. However, many therapists will allow active clients to get rescheduled without sitting on the waitlist. Usually even if you haven’t seen your therapist in a month or two, they will still allow you to schedule an appointment. This is because starting a new client means a lot more behind the scenes work. If a therapist is already getting full this behind-the-scenes work might not be realistic so you’ll end up waiting until things slow down enough that they can give you the attention your intake needs. If you get connected with someone sooner, they already know you and you’ll likely feel more comfortable with them. That will make your therapy experience more valuable and useful. There is some benefit to getting in with a therapist now rather than waiting until it is a last-ditch effort.
