Is Therapy Right for Me?

Three ways to know when to go to therapy.

For many of us, we grew up with the assumption that going to therapy meant something was really wrong. Things had to be way out of the norm for someone to need therapy. This belief often leads to feeling as though it’s better to “tough it out” rather than seek help through therapy. We might even think of ourselves as weak if we have to pay for someone to help us achieve mental and emotional flourishing.

The truth is that even “normal” life experiences, such as a breakup, work dissatisfaction, and self-doubt are significant experiences that create mental, relational, and emotional strain. Just because they’re common doesn’t make them insignificant. Even the typical life stuff warrants our attention and attunement.

At times in a hardship, we might decide that a self-help book with new information or insight is just what we need to shift the discomfort we’re in. Other times, we recognize a good friend with a listening ear and supportive hug does the trick.

But when we find that our usual sources of support fall short, it’s time to consider therapy.

How Do I Know If Therapy Is the Right Option?

1. Your support system isn’t equipped to help you .

Sure, you could navigate life without ever going to therapy and you’d probably be just fine. You could totally find emotionally safe people to confide in and you’d make it through. But there are times when the struggle we’re experiencing is just too vulnerable to bring to the people in our usual sphere. Or perhaps those people are involved in the struggle we’re facing. Or maybe those people are emotionally spent on their own challenges and unable to hold space.

2. You don’t know how to get unstuck.

Perhaps you have an awareness that a past event or relationship is a key factor in why you’re feeling so distraught in the present. You may know what you want to feel and believe, but you don’t know how to get there and you’re feeling stuck.

This is where a trained, compassionate, trauma-informed therapist comes into play.

3. You want a focused, nonjudgmental place to be vulnerable.

In therapy, you can more readily set aside your concerns about how the other person is experiencing your sharing of vulnerability. You can trust that the person you’re sharing with has training in how to address your specific pain and help you gain the life you want. You can talk about the hard stuff without fearing judgement – and even if that fear comes up in therapy, you can talk about it. You can let your guard down more than usual and experience connection in a new way that likely will transform your connections outside of therapy.

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Sometimes therapy is a like having an emotional doula. Sure, you could totally “deliver” on your own, but you might just find the experience more tolerable and enriching if you choose to let someone in on your journey.

You don’t have to be crazy, at rock bottom, or in a life crisis to pursue therapy. What you’re going through, no matter how small or big, is significant and worth attending to – and you know best what you need. Here’s your permission to make it significant enough to receive help.

Let’s get started! You can get in touch with me here.