How Do You Know If You Need Therapy? These 6 Signs Can Help You Decide
Life can feel like a lot sometimes. Between juggling your career, relationships, family obligations, and personal growth, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Maybe you’ve been pushing through, telling yourself, “I just need to get through this week” or “Other people have it worse, I should be fine.” But deep down, something still feels off.
So how do you know if therapy is right for you? Therapy isn’t just for moments of crisis—it’s a tool for healing, self-discovery, and growth. Many women in their 20s and 30s are navigating major life transitions—starting new careers, managing work-life balance, redefining relationships, or figuring out who they are becoming. If any of this resonates, therapy might be the support system you didn’t know you needed.
Here are six signs that it may be time to seek therapy:
1. You Feel Overwhelmed & Emotionally Drained
No matter how much self-care you practice—whether it’s yoga, journaling, or taking breaks—you still feel exhausted. Physically, emotionally, mentally… you’re just drained. It’s like carrying an invisible weight that won’t go away.
This could be a sign of emotional burnout. You may feel like you’re constantly running on empty or that your responsibilities are piling up with no end in sight. You might experience frequent headaches, tension in your body, or even trouble sleeping. When stress and exhaustion become the norm, therapy can help you unpack what’s fueling this burnout and create strategies to lighten your mental and emotional load.
2. Anxiety or Worry Feels Unmanageable
Do you find yourself overthinking everything? Maybe your thoughts race at night, making it hard to sleep. Or you constantly feel on edge, like you can’t relax no matter what you do.
Anxiety can show up in different ways: overanalyzing conversations, avoiding situations because of fear of judgment, or feeling like you have to be “on” all the time. You might notice physical symptoms like a racing heart, restlessness, or trouble concentrating. If your worry is interfering with your daily life, therapy can help you regain a sense of calm and control by identifying underlying triggers and developing coping strategies that work for you.
3. You Struggle with Boundaries & People-Pleasing
You say yes when you really want to say no. You feel guilty for prioritizing yourself, even though you know deep down that you need a break.
Maybe you’ve noticed a pattern: putting others’ needs before your own, feeling resentful or exhausted as a result, and then wondering why you’re always running on empty. People-pleasing can lead to burnout, low self-esteem, and frustration in relationships. Therapy can help you explore the root causes of these behaviors, teach you how to set healthier boundaries, and let go of the guilt that comes with putting yourself first.
4. Unresolved Past Pain Keeps Showing Up
Have you ever noticed patterns in your relationships, work, or self-esteem that seem to repeat? Maybe certain triggers bring up painful memories from childhood or past trauma.
If old wounds keep resurfacing—whether in the form of self-doubt, trust issues, or self-sabotage—it might be time to explore them in a safe and supportive space. Trauma and past experiences don’t just disappear; they can manifest in ways you might not even realize. Therapy can help you break free from these cycles by processing unresolved pain, understanding its impact on your present life, and learning how to heal.
5. You Feel Disconnected from Yourself or Your Life
You’ve checked all the boxes: career, relationships, friendships, hobbies. But something still feels missing. You feel lost, unfulfilled, or uncertain about your purpose.
Maybe you don’t even recognize yourself anymore. You wonder, Who am I outside of my job? Outside of my relationships? You might feel like you’re just going through the motions, disconnected from joy, passion, or a sense of direction. Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself, identify what truly fulfills you, and explore ways to bring more meaning into your life.
6. You’re Navigating a Major Life Transition
Change—whether exciting or difficult—can be overwhelming. Maybe you’re starting a new career, ending a relationship, adjusting to motherhood, or dealing with a loss. Even when these transitions are expected, they can bring uncertainty, anxiety, or a sense of identity loss.
You might feel stuck between your past and future, unsure of where you belong. If you’re struggling to cope with life changes, therapy can provide the support and guidance you need to navigate these shifts with more ease and confidence. Having a therapist as a sounding board can help you process emotions, clarify your goals, and create a path forward.
How Therapy Can Help You Move Forward?
If you’ve been wondering, “Do I really need therapy?” and any of these signs resonated with you, it might be time to take the next step. Therapy isn’t about fixing something that’s broken—it’s about gaining clarity, building resilience, and creating a life that feels fulfilling and aligned with who you truly are.
Therapy offers a space where you can:
Gain clarity on your thoughts, emotions, and patterns.
Develop healthier coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Improve your relationships by learning effective communication and boundary-setting skills.
Heal from past experiences that may be holding you back.
Rediscover yourself and what truly matters to you.
You don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. Seeking therapy is an act of self-care and self-respect—an investment in your well-being.
If you’re in Washington State and ready to explore therapy, I’d love to support you. Let’s start with a free 20-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit. Click the ‘Schedule Now’ button to book your session. You deserve this time for yourself.
