Should I see a Therapist and use a Counselling Service ?

It can be very helpful to talk about your problems to close friends and family members, but sometimes, you will need help that the people around you aren’t able to provide. This is when seeking the support of a therapist can help. Therapy can help you learn about what you’re feeling, why you might be feeling it, and how to cope. Research also shows that the benefits of therapy can last long after the therapy ends. This is because you will learn the skills to deal with your symptoms and take better care of your overall mental wellbeing. However, sometimes it’s hard to know whether going to see a therapist can help, so making contact to arrange a first appointment can be something you put off for a long time. To help guide you in your decision, here are some signs to look out for.

You’ve suffered a trauma and you can’t seem to stop thinking about it
A bereavement, a breakup or job loss can be enough to require therapy. The grief we feel from a loss can impair daily functioning and even cause us to withdraw from friends and family. If you find you aren’t engaging in life like before or your mood has been consistently low for the last while, it may be time to support yourself
with a safe, confidential space to talk about what has happened.

Nothing you have done yourself seems to have helped
Sometimes our own coping skills fail us. They simply stop working, or become far less effective than they were in the past. If you’ve tried lots of different things already like talk to a friend, exercise more, seek out support online, apply various self-help techniques – and nothing has made much of a difference, it may be time to talk to a professional.

Your friends and family are tired of listening to you
Friends and family members are there for us through good times and bad. But sometimes the people in our lives can also feel overwhelmed by our problems and are unable to provide support in the way we need. If this is your experience, it’s time to reach out and talk to someone whose job it is to listen, and who can help guide
you through your problems.

People have noticed and said something to you
Sometimes friends can notice changes in us before we do, so it is worth considering the perspectives of those around you. Maybe it was a friend who pulled you aside one day and said, “Hey, is everything okay? I notice you seem to be really struggling lately… maybe you should talk to someone?” Or a partner who’s said, “You
haven’t been yourself in weeks, you need help”. Think about their advice, it’s coming from a place of love and concern.
You start over using or abusing something to cope
When the going gets tough, many people turn to their trusted mood-altering substance or activity of choice such as alcohol, drugs, food, gambling etc. If you find yourself depending on something to change how you feel, this could be a sign you are trying to numb feelings that should be addressed.
If any of the above resonates with you, you may find therapy and counselling service of great benefit. Even if you aren’t sure you want to commit to therapy, I always recommend to people that they should organise just one session to begin. This gives an opportunity to meet the therapist and discuss in detail what the issues are. And here at BodyMind Psychotherapy, there is no pressure to continue on and organise another session, unless you are happy to do so.