There are many misconceptions about therapy and what factors are “needed” to start going. Sometimes people feel they don’t have issues that are “serious or bad enough” that require seeking professional help. People will often compare their situation to others who “have it worse” and minimize and invalidate their own experiences. Another reason can be due to the stigma around mental health and going to therapy and being viewed as “weak” for doing so.
Therapy isn’t just for people who are in the middle of a major life crisis. Talking to a psychotherapist can help you to sort out your feelings and release pent-up emotions and thoughts that you haven’t felt safe or comfortable to share with anyone else, even your close friends or family members. Therapy can also allow you to talk about day to day issues that add up and gradually start to weigh on us over time.
It may take some consideration before you decide if you’re ready for therapy. You might want to wait and see if time, lifestyle changes, or the support of friends and family improves whatever you’re struggling with. If you experience any of the following emotions or feelings to the extent that they interfere with life, therapy may help you reduce and manage their effects. It’s especially important to consider it’s time to see a therapist if you feel controlled by symptoms or if they could cause harm to yourself or others.
Possible symptoms or signs you might need to see a therapist
Your individual therapy sessions are designed to focus on meeting you where you’re at and what your individual needs are. Even if you feel “fine,” and don’t feel like your current concerns warrant intervention, it’s important to know that therapy is practiced on a spectrum and even the lowest level of intervention can positively impact every single person in some way, whether or not a diagnosable disorder is present.
It’s also important to consider viewing therapy as proactive care opposed to taking reactionary measures. If you’re noticing signs of distress, irritability or just feeling like you have too much on your plate – why wait for that feeling to persist and potentially intensify over time? You deserve to take the time to meet with a therapist and tackle these issues before it gets to that point.
The reality is, there isn’t any criteria you need to have checked off to start therapy. Even those who are already self-aware and seem like they don’t “need” therapy still reap major benefits of partaking in therapy on a regular basis. Seeking therapy for mental health is for everyone, regardless of their background and what their presenting problems look like. Even if you aren’t sure you want to commit to therapy quite yet, we offer a free 15 minute confidential call to determine if we’re a good fit for you and your needs.
Written by,
Megan Philbin, LSW
www.cuttingedge-therapy.com