Recognizing When It’s Time to Seek Support
Many people wonder whether their struggles are “serious enough” to warrant therapy. The truth is, therapy isn’t only for those in crisis—it’s for anyone seeking growth, healing, or support in navigating life’s challenges. At City Behavioral Health, we believe in proactive, personalized care that meets you where you are. Here are ten signs that individual therapy might be right for you.
1. You’re Feeling Overwhelmed by Daily Life
If tasks that once felt manageable—like getting out of bed, going to work, or managing family responsibilities—now feel daunting, it could be a sign of burnout, anxiety, or depression. Therapy can help you regain balance and rebuild resilience.
2. You’re Stuck in Negative Thought Loops
Recurring negative thoughts—especially those related to self-worth, fear, or hopelessness—can erode your mental health. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), offered at CBH, is particularly effective in helping individuals identify and reframe these harmful thought patterns.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), CBT is one of the most evidence-based approaches for managing depression and anxiety disorders. Source: www.nimh.nih.gov
3. You Struggle to Regulate Your Emotions
Frequent emotional outbursts, irritability, or emotional numbness can indicate underlying mental health concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—another core offering at City Behavioral Health—equips clients with tools for emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness.
4. Your Relationships Feel Strained
If you often feel misunderstood, disconnected, or in conflict with loved ones, therapy can help you explore relational patterns and build communication skills. Relational healing is a foundational principle at CBH—we view the therapeutic relationship as a model for healthier external relationships.
5. You’ve Experienced a Significant Life Change or Loss
Major life transitions—such as divorce, job loss, moving, or bereavement—can trigger emotional upheaval. Therapy provides a space to process the change and navigate uncertainty with professional support.
6. You’re Using Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
If you’re relying on alcohol, food, shopping, work, or digital distractions to escape emotional discomfort, therapy can help you explore healthier alternatives. City Behavioral Health offers personalized treatment for both substance use and behavioral addictions, using harm reduction or abstinence-based models depending on your goals.
7. You’re Feeling Disconnected from Your Purpose
A persistent sense of emptiness or lack of direction may be a sign of depression, trauma, or simply a desire for deeper self-understanding. Integrative and process-oriented therapy can support you in reconnecting with your values and identity.
8. You Avoid Certain Situations Due to Fear or Anxiety
Avoidance is a common symptom of anxiety disorders, including OCD and phobias. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy, available at CBH, helps clients gradually face fears while reducing compulsive behaviors.
The American Psychiatric Association supports ERP as a first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Source: www.psychiatry.org
9.You’ve Experienced Trauma
Trauma can shape thoughts, behaviors, and emotional responses long after the event itself. Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is one of the most effective evidence-based treatments for PTSD and is offered as part of CBH’s trauma-informed care.
PE therapy is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense as a gold standard treatment for PTSD. Source: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/prolonged_exposure_pro.asp
10. You Want to Learn More About Yourself
Therapy isn’t just for healing—it’s also a space for self-discovery. Many clients seek therapy not because something is “wrong,” but because they want to know themselves better, improve emotional intelligence, or make intentional life changes.
When to Take the First Step
There’s no “perfect” time to begin therapy. If you’ve identified with one or more of the signs above, it might be worth scheduling an initial session. At City Behavioral Health, we offer flexible, evidence-based individual therapy that adapts to your pace, needs, and preferences. From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll find a safe, collaborative space to begin your journey.
Sources:
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Psychotherapies. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies
- American Psychiatric Association. OCD Treatment. https://www.psychiatry.org
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Prolonged Exposure Therapy. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/prolonged_exposure_pro.asp
