More than ever, we’re including emotional wellness in our understanding of what it means to enjoy a healthy, well-balanced life.
For most of us, this probably means ongoing self-care practices, such as mindfulness, boundary-setting, and gratitude.
And for some of us, this also includes working with a professional therapist.
Therapy provides a safe and supportive place for you to become the happiest, most fulfilled, and most thriving version of yourself.
But how do you know when it’s a good time to start working with a therapist?
Today we’re sharing 7 signs you might benefit from therapy:
1. You might benefit from therapy if you feel “stuck”.
Maybe you feel trapped in a dead-end job, joyless relationship, or daily rut. Perhaps you notice yourself having the same thoughts over and over, like they’re on a loop. Or maybe you’re experiencing certain consequences repeatedly– and though you keep hoping for a different outcome, you’re unsure how to change course. If you’re feeling stuck…
Therapy can help you identify those thoughts and behaviors that are keeping you from moving forward, and develop new tools and strategies for cultivating positive change in your life.
2. You might benefit from therapy if you’ve adopted habits that hurt.
Have you been drinking a bit more than usual lately? Starting arguments for no reason? Zoning out in front of the TV/Xbox/iPhone? Eating secretively or differently than you used to? Spending more money than you planned to… often?
Our minds are amazingly oriented towards self-healing: Even the most seemingly self-destructive behaviors can be viewed as attempts to care for ourselves in the moment through distraction, protection, even disorientation. If you’ve picked up habits that are harming you or someone else…
Therapy can help you examine the habits that are hurting you (or others), discover the purpose they’re currently serving in your life, and replace them with new styles of coping that will support you in living your best story.
3. You might benefit from therapy if you just don’t feel like yourself.
It can be difficult to describe, but sometimes you just feel “off”. Maybe you don’t take pleasure in the things you usually do for fun. Or you seem to have lost your personality or sense of humor. Maybe things just don’t roll as easily off your back. Or basic, everyday tasks (e.g., getting going in the morning, completing projects at work) feel a lot more challenging than they used to. If any of this sounds familiar…
Therapy can help you differentiate between “normal” difficulties and signs that something else could be going on in your life. It can also help you navigate challenging situations and periods, create a self-care plan of your own, and connect you with additional supports and resources as needed.
4. You might benefit from therapy if your loved ones are concerned.
Has a family member or trusted friend expressed worry about you? Are coworkers asking if everything is alright? Sometimes we might be unaware of changes in ourselves until those around us share what they’ve noticed. If the people who love you are voicing concern…
Therapy can help you make sense of what you’re hearing from loved ones, and determine if you might benefit from additional support. It can also help you communicate your needs to your friends and family, both now and in the future.
5. You might benefit from therapy if your relationship is stressful.
Relationships are complex, but good ones should be stress relievers rather than sources of stress. It’s perfectly normal to experience periods of difficulty in our relationships with partners, relatives, and friends. But if you find yourself avoiding contact, engaging in frequent conflict, or otherwise changing your behavior in one or more of your relationships…
Therapy can help you get to the bottom of what’s causing relationship stress. It can help you make key changes that will improve the ways you show up in your relationships. And, if appropriate, therapy with your partner or family member(s) can help you work together at improving your awareness, communication, and actions.
6. You might benefit from therapy if you’re approaching (or currently navigating) a life transition.
Are you considering ending a relationship? Planning a wedding? Caring for an elderly relative? Up for a big promotion at work? “Good” or “bad”, major life transitions can be incredibly stressful. Whether you’re anticipating a potential change, or knee-deep in the midst of transition right now…
Therapy can help you identify the ways you’ve handled changes in the past, shape your expectations of how new changes might influence your life, and develop strategies to navigate transitions with ease.
7. You might benefit from therapy if you’re feeling better than you have in awhile.
Are things going really well in your life? Believe it or not, this is an excellent time to consider therapy! When you’re feeling great…
Therapy offers the unique opportunity to reflect on what’s going well in your life. To get to know your strengths. To understand which values, beliefs, and choices have served you well. And to use this understanding to form habits that will create your healthiest, happiest life.
Enjoy this post? You might also like:
Therapy 101: Who Goes to Therapy?
Therapy 101: How to Prepare for Therapy
3 Myths About Emotional Wellness
Think you might benefit from therapy?