When to See a Therapist
5 Signs It’s time to go (or go back) to a Therapist. Photo Credit: Molnar Balint on Unsplash.
How do you know that it’s time to see a therapist? Or, how do you know when it’s time to go BACK to a therapist? By the end of this post, you’ll have a good idea of when to go, plus a guide on how to get started (in therapy).
It can be hard to know when to start seeing a therapist for the first (or second, or third) time. First, it’s humbling. Most people struggle to admit that there may be something wrong or that they need help.
Secondly, it’s not like there’s a manual out there for every individual person helping them find one (a therapist, that is). For this reason, I’ve put together a little list of 5 signs that suggest it’s time to see one, as well as how to find a therapist in your state, province, or country/ wherever you are! Take a look.
5 Signs That It’s Time to See a Therapist
1. Feeling More Emotional Than Usual. Maybe you’re feeling a little more sensitive than usual, or you’re more irritable. Little things you used to brush off are starting to get to you. Or, you’re crying a lot. Like, a lot!
When you’re feeling more emotionally “raw,” that means that your capacity for dealing with daily challenges is diminished, and that you aren’t at your best. This can happen for a number of different reasons. A therapist can help you find out what’s going on.
2. Trouble Sleeping. You could be having trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or waking up. Maybe your sleep schedule is just “off.”
Stress, anxiety, and depression (among other things) all tend to affect the ability to sleep well. With the exception of medical issues, in which case you should check with your doctor, this is a pretty good indication that something isn’t right.
3. Thought Loops. What are thought loops? When you get stuck thinking about something from the past or something that you’re worried may happen in the future, over and over again. I call this a “thought loop” because these thoughts generally repeat over and over in your mind, with no resolution. A therapist can help with this.
4. Feeling Chronically Overwhelmed. This could be a sign of burnout. Burnout can happen for any number of different reasons, like family problems, a difficult coworker at work, or financial troubles.
Whatever the reason, feeling overwhelmed constantly isn’t good for your health, and a therapist can help you see blind spots that might be getting in your way.
5. A Major Life Event, Transition, or Trauma. It goes without saying that any traumatic event warrants reaching out for help. But trauma isn’t the only reason to reach out.
Maybe you’re going through a career change, or moving to a new city, or going through a divorce. Really, any big change can be destabilizing, and there’s no reason to go through it alone. A therapist can offer support and tools to help lessen the stress that naturally comes with a big change.
Lastly, How to Find a Therapist!
This one can be hard to do, especially if you’ve never looked before. Sometimes therapists aren’t taking new clients or their schedule and/or rate doesn’t work for you. Rest assured, there are ways to get around this so that you can find the best help for you.
Here’s a Guide:
1. Assess your needs. For example: “I’m feeling really anxious, and I think I’d prefer seeing a black therapist.” Then, search for a black therapist specializing in anxiety.
Or, maybe you’ve done this before so you know what you need, and it’s CBT or trauma related or an addiction resurfacing. Great! Then look for someone who specializes in this.
2. Assess your Financials. Meaning, what can you afford, and can you use your insurance? A lot of therapists, especially in big cities, don’t take insurance. If that’s the case, then you may be able to see them using out of network benefits (I will have a whole other post on this soon).
And if you’re paying out of pocket, assess what you can afford realistically on a weekly basis. Then look for someone who can accommodate your budget.
3. Start Looking. Once you have a good idea of what kind of therapist you want, and your budget, you can start looking online at therapist directories (which are listed below).
You can also ask your family doctor if they have a recommendation, and if you feel comfortable doing so, ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also just Google one. Seriously, just type in therapist + your area, and see what comes up.
To sum it all up, recognizing that you’re having a hard time and admitting that you could use some help is hard. But the search doesn’t have to be.
Hopefully, these steps have simplified the process a little. And if the first few therapists you reach out to aren’t accepting new clients or their fee is too high, don’t despair. There are plenty of others out there. Take a look at the list of directories below to get started.
Good Luck, and Be Well!
Online Therapist Directories:
If you’re looking to use your insurance, try these ones:
Here are a few standard directories:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
For People with a Tighter Budget:
https://openpathcollective.org/
National Queer and Trans Network of Therapists:
The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment that can be provided by your own mental health practitioner. If you have any specific concerns about your mental health, you should consult your doctor and you should not delay seeking medical advice, or treatment for your mental health, because of information on this blog.
© Counseling Works NYC
Sabrina Tropper, LMHC
Sabrina Tropper, LMHC is a therapist and the founder of Counseling Works NYC. She works with individuals in New York who are experiencing relationship troubles, life transitions, or trauma.