Discovering your inner power as you work with a therapist to create lasting peace is the ultimate goal of individual therapy. Everyone struggles from time to time so it’s not always easy to know when it is part-and-parcel of daily life, and when it’s time to seek help. In most cases, it is short-term and self-correcting, but for a significant group of individuals this is not the case.

For those individuals, it is important to seek counseling just as you would any other health condition. Any changes in you that cause a loss in life satisfaction, or a sense of failing in parts of your life are reasons to consider counseling. Here we explore six signs which might indicate that it’s time to seek professional help.

What are the signs I would benefit from individual counseling?

1. You’ve been feeling low, irritable, or anxious for most of the day, multiple days for two weeks or more. You might have found yourself worrying about past or future events for long periods of time, or simply feeling sad, angry, or tearful. Feeling isolated and alone is often experienced by many as early symptoms of depression. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize a gradual change – have others noticed that you don’t seem your usual self?
2. Your are starting to rely on unhealthy habits. Life can feel stressful! We all have ways of managing that stress, but if your way of balancing it all is becoming a routine of drinking, binging on food, or excessive online shopping it may be time to sit down and talk with someone about it.
3. You are struggling to concentrate & focus. You might notice that you struggle to focus when reading or watching television, for example, or to follow the thread of a spoken conversation. This could be affecting your performance at work, or limiting your ability to perform routine tasks such as food shopping. Again, we are looking for a change in what’s normal for you, so if concentration has always been something you find tricky there is little cause for concern.
4. Family, Friends, or Coworkers have expressed noticing a change in you. When others in your life are concerned, this is a good indicator that it is time for self reflection. Often times we are so focused on pushing ourselves forward with responsibilities and obligations our own needs go unnoticed. Or we are beginning to pull away and isolate from your family and friends. Let the concerns expressed by those close to you be heard and make space for our own needs to be addressed.
5. You’ve experienced something that felt horrible or life threatening. You’ve experienced a trauma that has shaken you to your core. Trauma isn’t just for combat soldiers. A car accident, an affair, loss of a loved one, or anything you feel is traumatic – is trauma.
6. Your thoughts are filled with intrusive content and/or worries. Life is very difficult to manage when your mind is working against you with preoccupations, personal fears, or general worries. We can help you to understand your thought patterns and to find ways to control and direct the content in your mind so you can return to what matters most – your life.

It’s a reflection of strength to reach out for support when you are noticing any warning signs in your life and choose to begin individual therapy. Head over to our new client page and our intake coordinators can work with you to explore a therapist that would fit your needs the best.