Do I Need Therapy?

People often ask me some version of this question as if there is a threshold, a level of suffering you have to reach before therapy is justified. There is not. You do not need a diagnosis, a crisis or a breakdown to benefit from it. The better question is whether what you are dealing with is getting in the way of the life you want, and whether handling it alone is working.

Three questions worth asking yourself

Is it lasting? Everyone has bad weeks. A low mood, anxiety or irritability that has hung around for more than a few weeks, and is not lifting when circumstances improve, deserves attention.

Is it spreading? Notice whether it is showing up in more places than it used to: your sleep, your work, your relationships, how much you drink, how you talk to yourself.

Is your usual approach still working? Exercise, time outside, talking to a friend, pushing through. If the things that used to reset you no longer do, that is useful information, not failure.

If you answered yes to any of these, therapy is worth considering. If you answered yes to all three, it is worth doing soon.

Common reasons people start

• Anxiety or stress that will not switch off
• A low or flat mood that has settled in
• A major change: a career ending, a move, a divorce, a loss
• Conflict or distance in a relationship
• Performance pressure, at work or in sport, that has stopped being useful
• Something from the past that keeps showing up in the present

You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before you start. Figuring that out is part of the work.

What it actually looks like with me

I work with adults located in Colorado, by telehealth. It starts with a free 15-minute phone consult, so you can ask questions and get a feel for whether we are a fit. If we are, we book a first session. Sessions are $250 and self-pay; I can give you a superbill to submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

In session, we talk about what is going on, what you want to be different, and what is getting in the way. I will be direct with you, and we will work on things you can use between sessions, not only talk about the week.

When therapy is not the right first step

If you are in immediate danger or thinking about ending your life, do not wait for an appointment. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255, or call 911.

If you are not sure, that is fine too. Call and ask. The worst outcome of a 15-minute conversation is that you leave with a clearer idea of what would help.