When Should You See a Therapist?
Around this time of year, with the stress of the holiday season plus the upcoming new year, I know a lot of you are reflecting on 2020 and thinking about what you could do differently in 2021. Seeing a professional therapist might be one of the tools you are thinking about adding to your self-care repertoire next year, but many people question if it’s the right time. Below I’ve broken down some of the most important times to seek therapy to help you decide if now is the right time for you.
You’re going through a life transition. Whether you’re getting into or out of a relationship, making changes in your career, or experiencing shifts in other parts of life, transition periods are a great time to see a therapist to help you navigate the changes in your life and stay on top of your feelings and wellbeing.
You feel stuck or confused. Therapy can help you clarify your thoughts and feelings and assist you in developing plans to process difficult situations so that you can keep moving through them and towards your goals.
You are hurting. Experiences like grief, anxiety, or depression or are great reasons to seek assistance. Therapy can help you develop tools to tolerate distress so that you begin to feel better. You can explore underlying mental health issues that might need specific treatment so that you can cope more effectively during hard times.
You’re surrounded by conflict. If it feels like all of your relationships are imploding or you can’t quite seem to manage your life, it is a great time to get some additional perspective and tools to help you address the heart of the matter. Sometimes there are changes in perspective or behavior that can give you the keys to resolving conflict and strengthening your relationships.
You need someone to listen. Having an outlet to express yourself is a valuable tool, and a therapist will meet you where you are and always show unconditional positive regard for you. They will be objective and will not express personal opinions or tell you what to do. They will listen, validate your experience, and help you process your thoughts.
You’re setting goals. If there are things you want in life and you are thinking about how to achieve them, therapy can be a great tool. Sometimes distorted thinking, past trauma, personality dynamics, and many other influences can hold us back from progress. Therapy can help you identify and overcome barriers to your goals.
You’re a human with a pulse. Every person out there could benefit from the helpful experience of being heard, validated, and supported through therapy. Even if you’re living your best life, therapy can help you explore new goals and make sure you keep growing and getting the most out of life. Therapy is not just for times when you have an issue or problem to address. It’s beneficial to reflect and grow during times of peace and prosperity, too!
I hope that is a helpful primer as you contemplate new year’s resolutions and assess all the possibilities 2021 holds for you. The bottom line is, therapy can always be a helpful tool as you reflect, plan, grow, and heal. Any time you are interested is a good time for therapy. Stay tuned for posts on how to find the right therapist and what therapy is really like!
