How to Know When It’s Time to Start Therapy
Therapy is a process where trained professionals help you take charge of your life and navigate mental health challenges you may be facing. There are many different reasons why people seek therapy, and no reason is less valid than another. The right type of therapy can provide tools to improve your life and mental well-being. People may decide to seek help for anxiety, stress, depression, loss of motivation, self-image, relationship issues, and more.
Many people wonder if what they are going through is “serious enough” or “bad enough” to need support. It’s common to tell yourself that other people have it worse or you can handle it on your own. However, many people start therapy simply to better understand themselves, improve relationships, or navigate daily life more easily.
If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy but aren’t sure if it’s the right time, here are a few signs that it could be a good idea.
In this article:
You Don’t Need to Be in Crisis to Start Therapy
A big misconception about starting therapy is that you need to be in a crisis, an emergency, or struggle with a severe mental health condition. While therapy can be helpful during a crisis, it can also be beneficial in less severe circumstances and serve as a preventative form of support.
People start therapy for many different reasons, including:
Ongoing stress or anxiety
Low mood and/or mood swings
Lack of motivation and feelings of helplessness
Feeling stuck or unfulfilled
Major life or relationship changes
Addressing concerns early can help prevent them from becoming worse or more overwhelming. If you’ve been struggling with something on your own, no matter how severe you think it is, that alone is a good enough reason to seek support.
7 Signs It May Be Time to Start Therapy
There isn’t always one concrete reason to start therapy, and it may be a combination of experiences and feelings. There are certain patterns that often signal that it may be the right time to reach out and talk to a therapist. Often, these patterns go unnoticed. If you notice one or more of these feeling familiar, it may be time to consider therapy.
You’ve experienced a major life transition
Both positive and negative life changes can be overwhelming and bring up emotions that are difficult to navigate alone. Moving to a new city, career changes, ending a relationship, graduating, becoming a parent, or experiencing a loss can cause shifts in your sense of stability.
Whether you are feeling different emotions than usual or struggling to adapt, therapy can provide a grounding space to process these changes and understand your feelings better.
2. Your symptoms are getting worse
It’s normal to feel anxious or overwhelmed during stressful periods. However, if you’ve been experiencing more intense stress or anxiety, low mood, or persistent depression, starting therapy can help disrupt the cycle before it deepens.
You may notice:
Increased worry
Racing thoughts or feeling like you can’t “shut your brain off”
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling emotionally drained or constantly fatigued
These could be signs that symptoms are escalating rather than improving. Reaching out for support can help you better understand what’s happening and create a plan to improve over time.
3. You withdraw from relationships
You may be canceling plans more often, avoiding family and friends, feeling too drained to reach out, or feeling disconnected from loved ones. This may be a sign that something deeper is going on. Pulling away from social activities can feel protective at first, but over time it may increase loneliness or make anxiety and depression feel heavier. Therapy offers a safe space to explore the reasons behind that withdrawal and rebuild healthy connections at a manageable pace.
4. Life feels more overwhelming than usual
Sometimes it’s not just one big life event, but everyday life and tasks begin to feel more difficult. Small tasks may feel more exhausting, and minor stressors may feel more intense and unmanageable than they used to. You may be in survival mode and just covering the basics of self-care.
These may be signals that your stress levels are exceeding your coping capacity, and it may be time to find out what’s causing this. Therapists know how to help when life feels overwhelming. They can support you in developing tools to regulate stress and understand what’s making you feel this way.
5. You feel stuck in the same patterns
Do you notice repeating the same unhealthy relationship dynamics, struggling with self-criticism, or procrastinating uncontrollably? Feeling stuck in negative and unhealthy patterns can feel frustrating and discouraging. It may be difficult to recognize these patterns yourself, and to know how to navigate them. Starting therapy can help identify underlying patterns, understand their root causes, and create a sustainable plan for intentional change.
6. You feel stuck in the same patterns
It may be time to consider therapy if you notice significant changes in your sleeping or eating habits. This could include chronic insomnia, sleeping more than usual, or appetite changes (eating significantly more or less) that cause distress. Other indicators include using food or sleep to manage emotions, such as anxiety, shame, guilt, or stress. This can lead to disordered eating or sleep habits that can disrupt daily life and lead to withdrawal or burnout.
This can often be difficult to manage on your own or know how to get back on track in a healthy way. A therapist can help identify the root causes of these behaviors and develop a personalized, sustainable strategy to feel more like yourself again.
7. You lose interest in activities you used to enjoy
You may find yourself dreading or no longer feeling excited about hobbies, activities, or social events that once felt meaningful and fun. If something that used to feel positive now feels uninteresting or like a chore, that’s important to notice.It’s normal to have times when you’re focused on important goals and have less time for other activities. However, losing pleasure and joy in things you used to enjoy can signal depression or emotional exhaustion. This is known as apathy, and a therapist can help you figure out what’s causing this cycle and how to regain that feeling of excitement and interest.
Hesitant about starting?
It’s completely normal to feel unsure about starting therapy. Simply knowing you feel “off,” helpless, or in need of self-evaluation is enough reason to reach out.You might wonder if therapy will work for you, what type of therapy is best for your concerns, or what to expect when starting therapy. These questions are common and valid.You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. A therapist’s role is to help guide the conversation, ask thoughtful questions, and create a space where you can explore what’s going on at your own pace.Starting therapy doesn’t mean committing to long-term treatment right away. It can begin with a conversation and provide a chance to see how it feels and whether it’s the right fit for you.
Starting Therapy at Careful Counseling
At Careful Counseling, we understand that starting therapy can feel like a big step. Our clinicians aim to create a supportive, collaborative environment where you feel heard, respected, and understood from the beginning.
Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck, therapy offers space to slow down, gain clarity, and develop tools for change. Our approach is thoughtful and evidence-based, while also tailored to your unique experiences and goals.
If you’re looking for therapy in Boston or virtually across Massachusetts, we invite you to take the next step in a way that feels comfortable.
Book a free 15-minute consultation today to learn how we can support you.
