How Do I Know If Therapy Is Right For Me?

It is a common misconception that you need to have suffered a significant trauma or be ‘really sick’ to engage in any kind of therapy or mental health support. I genuinely believe that everyone can benefit from therapy at one point in his or her lives. In fact, therapy can be a wonderful tool as it provides a safe, confidential environment to decompress from life’s day-to-day stressors.

Today though, we are here to figure out if therapy may be beneficial for you. Let’s take a look at some clues that indicate therapy may be the right choice for you:

1. You Are Having Difficulty Sleeping.
   
   Sleep is an important pillar for overall wellness. If our sleep is negatively impacted, we may see stress, fatigue and feelings of overwhelm gradually seep into our day-to-day lives.  If you find your sleep habits have changed (i.e. you struggle to fall asleep at night, toss and turn, or suffer from nightmares), therapy may be help. When we are winding down for the night, all the distractions are gone and as a result, any distressing thoughts come to the forefront of our mind. Engaging in therapy and working with a qualified professional may help to organize and process some of the thoughts that you otherwise spend your waking hours, knowingly or unknowingly, distracting yourself from.

2. You Frequently Question Your Thoughts, Feelings and/or Actions.
   
   Do you find yourself asking “Why did I say that?” or “Why am I feeling like this?” If the answer is yes, you may benefit from engaging in therapy. Sometimes, we have a big reaction to a seemingly small situation because in fact, we are not just reacting solely to that particular moment, but to all the past moments that we have not fully processed.

3. You Rely On Others to Feel Better.
   
   It is common to feel upset when our loved one are not well however, if you find your specific mood changes depending on the perceived actions or feelings of others, therapy may be for you. Constantly needing reassurance or validation from your friends, family or partners, that you are loveable/wanted/enough may result in an emotional dependency. When someone lives being emotionally dependent on others, it can feel as though they are stuck on a never-ending rollercoaster with no clear warning of when a loop or drop may happen. Therapy can help provide clarity as to why these behaviours exist and ultimately, help a person feel a sense of control over their own emotions and self-image.

4. You Have ‘Google-d’ Ways to Feel Better but Nothing Has Helped.
   
   Have you found yourself on Google more often? Perhaps, you are researching books, podcasts or articles in the hopes that you will find The One that will finally help you feel better? If this sounds familiar, therapy may be a helpful next step.  Although there are wonderful resources available, there may be underlying concerns that need to be addressed first. Speaking with a qualified professional and engaging in therapy can provide you with a tailored treatment plan designed to work exclusively with your needs and personal goals.

5. You Simply Enjoy Talking Things Through.
   
   Ultimately, if you find that after talking to someone you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders, therapy is likely for you. Although it can be lovely to have people in our social circles to decompress with, it can also be nice to have an unbiased third-party to talk things through. This way, you know that what was discussed earlier will not randomly come up at the family dinner table, or a well-intentioned friend will not ask ‘how has X-thing been going” when you are having your Friday night Zoom call. 

 If you find yourself nodding along to this article or feel as though any of the statements listed above resonate with you, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. We can discuss any questions or concerns you may have in more detail and decide whether therapy is right for you!