How do I know if I should see a therapist?
Have you been struggling with your mental health and wondering what type of support you should get to help you? This article will help you gain insight into when seeing a therapist is a good option and the steps you can take to find a therapist that is the right fit for you.
Over the past decade there has been a major shift in how psychotherapy is viewed. Fortunately, the stigma of therapy has been greatly reduced and mental health care is no longer viewed as a service for only severe mental illness. What this means is that there is an increasing number of people who seek out therapy services for a wide range of reasons. Nonetheless, you may still find yourself wondering, “but is therapy really for me?” Hopefully this list helps answer that question for you.
1. You are repeating the same negative cycles and patterns
When people get stuck mentally or emotionally, they can find themselves repeating the same negative cycles. This can be destructive for a person’s own wellbeing and their relationships. Despite having the best intentions, at times it can be difficult to figure out a way to get out of these patterns which can lead to being exhausted, frustrated, and demoralized.
If you start to feel like you can’t find a way out of repeating these cycles, this is where a therapist can be beneficial. It can be difficult to figure out how and why you find yourself returning to unhelpful patterns. A therapist can work with you to help gain insights into the root of your negative habits and work collaboratively with you to establish meaningful strategies for healthier ways to address your current challenges.
2. Your mental health is impacting your ability to function
Our mental and emotional wellbeing can dramatically impact our ability to function in day-to-day life. This may look like experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or anger. While it is very normal to experience negative emotional states, it is important to be aware of when they are interfering with your ability to participate in your life. If you struggle to find coping strategies or your existing ones are no longer helpful, this is a good time to consider counselling. By working with a counsellor, you can start to uncover what is behind your symptoms and what you need to address them.
3. You are going through a major change
Major life changes can stir up high levels of stress and difficult emotions. This may include losing a loved one, separation or divorce, identity changes, new relationships, or career shifts. If you find that as you are going through a major change you are struggling to cope or do not have adequate support in your existing relationships, a therapist can be a helpful person to help you navigate this change. You may find that you need to talk through and release what the experience has been like for you. Working with a therapist, you can identify the internal and external resources you need to move through your life transition with as much ease as possible.
Other Considerations for Seeing a Therapist
1. Therapy is not limited to when you are in crisis
If you are wondering whether you can still see a therapist if you are not in crisis, the answer is a big bold YES. Therapy is not exclusively limited to when individuals are dealing with major loss or problems. If you are wanting to learn more about yourself so that you can grow and develop, counselling provides a safe space to dig into these aspects of your life.
2. Each therapist will work with you differently
Whether you decide to see a therapist because you are in an acute crisis or you are wanting to work through long-standing issues, it is important to know that each therapist will work with you slightly differently. For example, some therapists will be solution focused and future-oriented with a goal of helping you establish new goals and habits. Whereas other therapists will be more process oriented and encourage dialogue that will help you process the past which may be contributing to your present issues. The key thing to know is that it is very normal to have to try a few therapists before you find the right fit.
3. Therapy is one of many options
As a clinical counsellor myself, I truly believe in the power of therapy for helping people improve their mental wellbeing. However, I also recognize that therapy is one of many options. You are not limited or restricted to therapy for getting support. Therapy can also be valuable in conjunction with other types of resources including meditation, movement, medication, nutrition and building community connection (to name a few).
It is also possible that you may be keen to try therapy but are met with financial barriers. If this is the case, there are great options for affordable counselling. For example, here in the Sea-to-Sky there are non-profit programs that provide low-to-no fee counselling. You can reach out to organizations such as Sea-to-Sky Community Services and Howe Sound Women’s Centre. Many counsellors (including myself) will also provide sliding scale counselling options (email me to learn more about this options). In addition, many private practices will have practicum students that provide counselling services at a reduced cost.