Navigating life’s challenges can sometimes leave us wondering, “How to tell if you need therapy or counseling?” It’s a question many of us have asked. Especially, when faced with overwhelming emotions, stress, or recurring thoughts. In this post, we’ll explore the common signs you might need therapy. We’ll explain the difference between therapy and coaching, and how to determine if it’s time to reach out for professional support. Whether you’re questioning, “Do I need therapy, or am I overreacting?” this guide aims to offer clarity and ease any concerns you might have about seeking help.
Reasons to Seek Therapy
Some of the reasons to seek therapy include experiences such as:
- If you’re overwhelmed or exhausted all the time.
- If you don’t feel rested and energetic even after a full night’s rest.
- Find yourself crying more often.
- Trouble focusing.
- Turning to things that help you numb out or zone out. Some of those things can be doom scrolling, habitual Netflix binges, drinking a couple of drinks every night, habitual CBD or THC use for sleep or for mood, snacking at night. Amazon therapy or shoe therapy.
- Find yourself avoiding your thoughts.
If you find yourself asking, “Do I need therapy, or am I overreacting?” it’s essential to recognize that these are common signs you need therapy. Therapy is not just for people who are in crisis; it’s also a tool for those who want to explore their emotions, understand their thoughts, and gain clarity on their life path.
Repetitive, Automatic, and Intrusive Thoughts
If you have a repetitive thought pattern or an intrusive thought pattern, therapy could be particularly helpful. Internal criticism or overwhelm might show up as an automatic thought pattern, and it can be aggressive or just plain mean.
Here’s the thing: Automatic or intrusive thoughts are often related to an emotional wound or need. It’s not like you’re being mean to yourself on purpose—these responses are buried deep and are often instinctual. Therapy is a great way to unravel these patterns so that you can create a space where you have the capacity to address the underlying need and process your emotions differently.
You might also be thinking about mindset work, which has become quite popular lately. But when the pattern is deeply ingrained, there’s usually a lot of emotional pain, feelings of guilt, and, most of all, shame involved.
How to Tell If You Need Therapy: The Role of Shame and Internalized Pressure
What is shame? How I define shame is that it’s feelings of guilt related to expectations you’ve internalized—expectations that you or others have placed on yourself. Often, my clients describe these feelings as a constant sense of guilt, even when they haven’t done anything wrong.
These expectations might come from parents, social class, society, peer pressure, religious values, your partner, or trying to be a good mom, employee, spouse, etc. Whew, that’s exhausting! It’s also impossible. Often, people feel like there’s something inherently wrong with them or that they have some fatal flaw they’re hiding.
It’s shame! You didn’t start it, and it’s not your fault!
I work with people who are over-achievers, people-pleasers, and perfectionists. They often have a lot of internalized pressure on themselves and overwhelming feelings of guilt. This is really shame. And this is one of the key signs you need therapy. When guilt and shame are holding you back from living a fulfilling life.
Should I Do Therapy or Counseling? How is Jungian Work Different
Another aspect worth considering is the difference between analysis and psychotherapy. While mental health therapy and
counseling have traditionally focused on psychopathology and diagnoses, Jungian psychoanalysis (or depth therapy) takes a different approach. It focuses on self-knowledge, psychological integration, and alignment between mind, body, emotions, and your soul.
This isn’t necessarily about fixing depression or anxiety—though it can include these things. It’s also about feeling confident and liking yourself (mind, body, and behaviors). Additionally, feeling in alignment with yourself, understanding your values, being able to set boundaries, and developing a sense of integrity.
Signs You Need Therapy: Analysis Goes Beyond Diagnosis
Jungian analysis, and likewise how I do depth art therapy, can also be about finding meaning and purpose in life. It can be about reducing suffering or making the limitations or unchangeable struggles in life make sense. Also dream work is uniquely positioned to help someone understand how they have uniquely adapted to their past experiences, family, traumas, and the world around them.
Furthermore, many of the things I just mentioned above don’t necessarily fit into diagnosis categories. Thus, my main point is that therapy can be about getting to know yourself, finding spiritual fulfillment, meaning in life, and an overall sense of well-being, rather than solely treating mental illness.
Do I Need Therapy or Am I Overreacting? Recognizing the Signs
Maybe you’ve found that you’ve been triggered or overwhelmed in coaching programs or classes you’ve taken. Or perhaps what was laid out in a lecture, presentation, or workshop about how to fix a mindset issue. Though you found it isn’t a matter of willpower. If you feel powerless to control your mind, it might not be an issue that can be solved from a coaching mindset paradigm.
I get asked all the time why I am willing to travel to Switzerland several times a year for many years to further my education as a training candidate at the CG Jung Institute Zurich. Depth psychoanalysis is a beautiful process. It is the most rewarding field I could ever imagine being a part of. I find my clients’ processes to be inspiring, heartfelt, and beautiful.
Conclusion on How to Tell if You Need Therapy: Should You Seek Therapy?
For those who find themselves in impossible situations, feeling hopeless, overwhelmed, or just struggling with the status quo, depth therapy offers a path toward meaning and wholeness. In a world that is divided, confused, and stressed-out, therapy calls for a return to the Self. Thus, peace happens on an individual level and resonates outward from there.
If you’re asking yourself, “How do I know if I need therapy or counseling?” or “Should I do therapy or counseling?”—consider this your invitation to explore the possibility. Finally, therapy isn’t just about mental illness; it’s about living a life of alignment, purpose, and fulfillment. Schedule a free chat with me if you’d like to explore further to see if we might be a good fit to work together.