It's not an emergency. Do I need therapy?
Most people find asking "Would therapy be beneficial?" far more helpful than asking "Do you need psychotherapy?" It is too easy to get stuck on the word 'need' and miss the real issue, i.e. "What would be most helpful in this situation?" Although most people seek out psychotherapy because they are suffering, there are also many who do so because they find that the process enriches their lives. It provides support, deepens self-awareness, improves your relationships, uncovers your blocks to growth, and contributes to a more fulfilling and fruitful life. Therapy helps with many difficulties, including: anxiety, depression, panic, feelings of emptiness, self-sabotage, addiction, bereavement, traumatic stress, job loss, burnout, sexual difficulties, turbulent emotions, self-doubt, obsessions and compulsions, marriage or relationship difficulties, avoidance, shame, family conflict and crisis, shyness, failure to thrive, and personality problems. But why not just take a pill? The simplicity, ease and sometimes cost-effectiveness of this approach is appealing, and medication is often absolutely necessary. However, emotional, relational and psychological difficulties are often inseparable from your way of being in the world, your history and context, your needs, wishes, fears, thoughts, and of course your biology. Intervening only biologically can help you feel better (and in some cases enable you to function), but it won't necessarily produce deep psychological change. Lasting change grows from developing a complete understanding of the difficulty and then realigning yourself, life and relationships, finding meaning, and working towards realising your potential. Therapy involves work and money, but it provides an opportunity to transform your life profoundly and permanently. If you find that you are still unsure, consider the questions below. If you answer yes to one or more, it is probably worth seeing someone. Remember, it's easier to address difficulties sooner rather than later. There are more people not in therapy who would benefit than people in treatment who should not be there.
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