How do I know if I need therapy?

There are lots of ways to recognise when someone else is struggling. The majority of the time, we can give good advice and show how we care. But, when it comes to ourselves, we keep pushing, quite often until the point of burnout. Rather than bury our heads in the sand, it may be time to put a mirror up to ourselves and notice what is actually going on.

Some people start therapy when there is an event or loss in their lives like a death or a breakup. However, a lot of people let years or even a lifetime of issues get on top of them and it can be reflected in their day to day lives.

This can be feelings of being overwhelmed, low mood or a lack of interest in things that you usually enjoy. There may be intense emotion with bursts of anger or helplessness. The mind may be racing or catastrophising. Dark thoughts can be intrusive. Doing work may be difficult due to no motivation/concentration or you might overwork instead.

Socially, you could struggle with relationships or start isolating. Physically, there might be forms of self-harm or loss of appetite. Sleep affects us massively. It is even possible to have other physical symptoms known as psychosomatic. Obviously, anxiety or other mental health issues can surface. Any experience that has left you with a sense of fear or stress is a level of trauma.

Where do you start and what can you expect?

I would recommend doing a little research on what type of therapy you feel you can relate to the most. I am integrative, which basically means I don’t believe ‘one size fits all’ and I adapt theory to what the clients’ needs are.

There are lots of other approaches, for example, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is quite often the first point of call for most.

You can then look for therapists with your intuition - of who you feel drawn to. Take advantage of the free initial call and ask as many questions as you can.

I honestly believe that everyone would benefit from therapy as growth is key to our happiness. Mindset also plays a vital role. Building trust exploring yourself from the past and present as well as setting goals for your future self can have huge benefits. This can be particularly easier with a professional as they are not emotionally involved like those around you and it is done with the foundations of theory. There is no shame whatsoever you deserve the best.

Hopefully, this article has got you thinking and made you question things. If you feel you would like to explore in more depth, please get in touch for a free initial call to help put you at ease and discuss what you would like to get from therapy.