Six Great Reasons to Start Therapy

Starting therapy is a powerful choice for anyone seeking personal growth and emotional well-being. Whether you're facing big changes or wanting to heal old wounds, here are six great reasons to consider therapy:

1. Old Coping Strategies Aren't Working Anymore

Believe it or not, this is one of the most common reasons we see people come to therapy. You may not even realize it, but something you've relied on, maybe for most of your life, stops being effective. Maybe you've relied on distractions, avoidance, or overworking to get through tough times. Maybe you have a pattern of minimizing your needs, or focusing on others to get through conflict and tension. Maybe you pride yourself on discipline but it's not getting you where you want to go.

Whatever it is, when old strategies aren't cutting it anymore, therapy can help you discover more effective ways to cope. We can help you see your blind spots and grow into the healthiest version of yourself. Working with a therapist can help you understand why certain responses feel like they’re failing and guide you toward new methods to manage stress and emotions.

2. Your Anxiety Is Getting Worse and/or Your Sleep is Impacted

Anxiety can steadily creep up until it feels like a constant unwelcome guest. Some people experience anxiety physically, while others have racing thoughts. If you're plagued by more agitation, rumination, or sleep disturbance than usual, it could be anxiety.

Anxiety often takes a toll on sleep, making it harder to feel rested and ready for the day. Anxiety can make it difficult to relax, keep a calm mind, and get a good night's sleep, leaving you feeling drained. Therapy provides tools to manage anxiety, improve sleep patterns, and find a sense of peace.

3. You're Going Through a Big Life Change

Major life changes, even positive ones like a new job, a big move, or starting a relationship, can be stressful. Taking next steps in a relationship can be joyful but also strain the connection. Therapy can help you process these transitions, address uncertainties, and help you adapt to your new normal. Whether the change is planned or unexpected, having support can make the transition smoother and more manageable.

Big life changes are also an ideal opportunity to center and elevate your values and dreams. Change often creates space for more change, which you can use to your advantage. Working with a therapist to clarify, uphold, and live out dreams that align with your values can bring tremendous meaning and purpose.

4. You Feel Unfulfilled or Stuck

Feeling unfulfilled or stuck in life, work, or relationships is a common reason to seek therapy. Humans are inherently meaning-makers. When we don't feel aligned with values and purpose, we are much more likely to be depressed. The great news is that finding ways to align with your values can fix this. A therapist can help you explore these feelings and work toward understanding what’s causing them. Together, you can set meaningful goals, identify barriers, and discover new perspectives to move forward in a way that feels fulfilling and purposeful.

5. You Want to Understand and Improve Your Relationships

Our relationships have a big impact on our mental and emotional well-being. In fact, there are few things that have a bigger impact. Deep, healthy, meaningful relationships are huge predictors of physical and emotional health. Therapy offers a safe space to explore relationship dynamics, understand communication patterns, and work toward more meaningful connections. Even if you’re not in a romantic relationship, improving how you relate to family, friends, and coworkers can have a profound impact on your life.

6. You're Ready to Face Your Trauma (Or Almost Ready!)

Everyone's got trauma. Not all trauma is the same, but we all have had experiences that changed how we think of ourselves or the world in a negative way. Whether you had a bad car accident, experienced a sexual assault, or had a toxic relationship, trauma therapy can help. Treating our trauma allows us to feel free and reconnected to ourselves and our loved ones.

Facing trauma is a difficult, courageous step. It's important to find a trauma therapist that creates a supportive environment for the healing process. A therapist trained in trauma-informed practices, like EMDR, can guide you through processing past experiences at a pace tailored you. You don’t have to be completely ready to dive in—just being open to exploring your trauma is a great place to start.

Therapy In Los Angeles: a Journey Worth Taking

If any of these reasons resonate with you, therapy might be the next step in your journey. Whether you’re looking to improve coping skills, manage anxiety, navigate life changes, or start healing past wounds, therapy provides a safe, supportive space for growth and self-discovery. The journey may feel daunting, but the benefits to your mental health and well-being can be truly transformative.

Our California therapists are ready to help you live your best life. We offer virtual services available across California as well as several other states. Book a free consultation today to see if we might be a good fit.