How To Know If You Need Mental Health Counseling

We may have had thoughts or feelings of sadness, worry, or distress that have led us to considering if we may need mental health counseling. If you have ever or are currently asked yourself “How to know if I need mental health counseling?” you are not alone. Many of us have asked this very question and here are some things to consider to help answer that. First and foremost, I believe that mental health counseling can benefit anyone and everyone. There is no shame in utilizing an objective professional mental health counselor for additional support to help overcome difficult situations. There are many reasons to receive mental health counseling. You can utilize mental health counseling for support, processing a current or past stressor, learning additional coping skills, and much more. Mental health counseling can be helpful at any point you feel that you would like additional support. Ultimately it is up to the individual on what they feel they would like to talk about in treatment to receive some additional support.

Understanding what therapy is and how it can benefit you is the first step of deciding if you need mental health counseling.

A mental health therapist can be helpful with providing unconditional positive regard and non-judgmental listening in treatment. Many find it helpful to have someone objective and neutral without any judgment to share difficult feelings or thoughts with. Many mental health therapists specialize in different areas of treatment and utilize different therapeutic modalities and techniques to help you achieve your desired goals and addressing your specific topics. If you have been considering mental health counseling here are some things that are commonly experienced and indicators that it may be the time to start:

• You’re having difficulty with coping with general situations or situations in your everyday life.
• You notice abrupt changes in your mood throughout the day.
• You find it difficult to manage your mood and emotions.
• You feel sad throughout most of the day or out of nowhere without a reason that you can identify.
• You worry or feel anxious a lot if not all of the time.
• You find yourself “feeling stuck” with certain thoughts or memories.
• Your relationships have been impacted and or feel that you need some extra support on communicating with others.
• You have experienced a lack of motivation or joy within your life.
• You find yourself using alcohol or other substances to help alter your mood.
• You have thought about death or suicide.

If you have experienced any of these, it may be the time to start with a mental health therapist. You can of course still utilize and benefit from mental health counseling without experiencing any of these listed things also. If you have had thoughts of death or suicide it is important to follow up with a professional to ensure your health and safety. This can include discussing these thoughts with a medical professional, calling the crisis or suicide hotline (1-800-273-8255), EAP, insurance providers, or even 911 or going to the nearest emergency room if needed. When you have made the decision to start mental health counseling, you can find some helpful information on Finding The Right Mental Health Therapist to help address your needs. Mental health counseling is a useful tool and practice that can help everyone in receiving additional support from a non-judgmental party that can help process difficult situations and feelings we may be experiencing. If you have been considering mental health counseling, please feel free to contact us for a free 15-minute consultation or take a look at Psychologytoday.com or Goodtherapy.org to find the right mental health therapist to help with your needs.