How To Know If You or Your Loved One Needs Therapy  

How Do I Know if I Need Therapy? 

Determining whether therapy is necessary is a personal choice and can depend on various factors. If you've been struggling with your mental health lately or feel emotionally exhausted, you might be wondering how to proceed. 

Below are some signs that you need therapy which can help you assess whether it’s time for you to search for support: 

• You’re experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness: If you find yourself feeling down, empty, or hopeless for an extended period (specifically two weeks or longer), therapy could help address any contributing factors and determine if you have a mental health disorder. 
• You feel overwhelmed by anxiety or fear: Experiencing intense and persistent anxiety, panic attacks, or irrational fears that interfere with daily life may indicate that you need therapy. 
• You’re struggling to cope with stress: If certain stressors are becoming overwhelming and you're struggling to cope, therapy can teach you how to manage stress more effectively. 
• Your sleep and appetite have changed: Significant changes in sleep patterns, appetite, or weight can indicate emotional distress that might be addressed with therapy. 
• You’re isolating yourself from others: If you've been withdrawing from social activities, friends, and family, therapy can help you pinpoint and address the contributing factors. 
• Your relationships are struggling: Therapy can help you understand and address consistent difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships, whether with family, friends, or partners and improve communication and coping skills. 
• You’re engaging in substance abuse: If you're turning to drugs, alcohol, or other substances to cope with your emotions, we encourage you to get therapy to develop healthier coping skills and avoid a potential co-occurring disorder. 
• You have unexplained physical symptoms: You might need therapy if you’re experiencing chronic physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or other pains that have no clear medical cause. 
• You have low self-esteem: Therapy can help you build a more positive self-image if you have persistent feelings of worthlessness or low self-esteem. 
• You’ve endured trauma: Therapy can address unresolved trauma from past experiences and provide a safe space for you to process and heal. 
• You struggle with obsessive thoughts or behaviors: Therapy can offer coping strategies to help you cope with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors that interfere with your day-to-day life. 
• You have frequent mood swings: Therapy can address severe and frequent mood swings that impact your functioning. 
• You have a lack of enjoyment: If you've lost interest in activities you used to enjoy, therapy can help you find out why and how to best cope. 

• You struggle to manage your emotions: If you find it challenging to regulate your emotions and react in healthy ways, therapy can teach you management skills that can help. 
• You often have negative thoughts: If you're stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts, such as constant self-criticism or catastrophizing, therapy can help you adjust your thinking. 

Remember that seeking therapy is not a sign of weakness, but rather one of strength. With residential mental health facilities across the nation, Banyan has witnessed firsthand what personalized care and support can do for mental health. If you believe you’ve displayed signs you need therapy, consider reaching out to a qualified therapist or mental health provider like Banyan Mental Health. 

What Type of Therapy Do I Need? 

Now that we’ve answered the question, “How do I know if I need therapy?”, you might be asking, “What kind of therapy do I need?” Determining the specific kind of therapy you need depends on your challenges and goals. 

Below are some common types of therapy and the issues they address: 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Arguably one of the most successful and utilized psychotherapies, CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors, making it effective for treating anxiety, depression, phobias, and other mood disorders. 
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and is often used to treat borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and emotional dysregulation. 
• Psychodynamic Therapy: This therapy explores unconscious thoughts and past experiences to understand how they influence current behaviors, making it useful for treating trauma-related symptoms and emotional dysregulation. 
• Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Mindfulness techniques help manage stress, anxiety, and depression by teaching the individual how to be aware of the present moment. Common examples of this form of therapy are Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). 
• Family Therapy: This therapy involves all members and is beneficial for improving communication, resolving conflicts, and addressing issues within family dynamics. 
• Couples Therapy: Also known as relationship or marriage counseling, this form of therapy focuses on improving communication and resolving conflicts in romantic relationships. 
• Trauma-Focused Therapy: Therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) help clients heal from past traumatic experiences and cope with symptoms of trauma disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 
• Art Therapy: This creative therapy uses different methods of art to express and explore emotions, making it easier for individuals to articulate their feelings. 
• Group Therapy: Group therapy sessions offer a safe and supportive environment where members can share their experiences, gain insights, and learn from others facing similar challenges. 
• Online Therapy: With the dawn of digital platforms, you can access various types of therapy remotely, which can be convenient for people with busy schedules or limited access to in-person therapy. 

The best type of therapy for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. What might work for someone else might not work for you. A qualified mental health professional – such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed therapist, or counselor – can help assess your situation and symptoms and determine the most appropriate form of therapy for you. They can also work with you to create an individualized treatment plan that aligns with your goals. 

How Do I Know if My Loved One Needs Therapy? 

1. They are neglecting everyday tasks and responsibilities, or exhibit a change in habits and routine. 

If you notice a loved one is struggling with everyday tasks, such as cleaning the house, food shopping, or walking the dog, this may be a sign that they are suffering from depression or other mental health issues and need professional help. Your loved one may feel overwhelmed by simple tasks that they used to easily accomplish and may have difficulty fulfilling even routine obligations. Even things like getting out of bed, showering, or getting dressed can become difficult for someone who needs help, and you may notice that their personal hygiene and appearance worsen. Your loved one may begin sleeping more than usual, or alternately not sleeping at all. In these situations, it is important not to lose your temper with your loved one or accuse them of being lazy/messy/careless. Instead, you might say something along the lines of “I’ve noticed you haven’t been walking the dog as much lately, is everything okay?” 

2. They are no longer participating in activities they used to enjoy. 

A person who is struggling with depression or anxiety may shy away from activities they used to enjoy. If your loved one used to look forward to attending a child’s soccer game, or going out to dinner on the weekends, and now shows apprehension or disinterest in attending such events, this may be a sign that they need help. 

3. They frequently express feelings of being depressed, anxious, overwhelmed or having lost hope. 

If your loved one is frequently expressing these negative emotions, it’s important to listen. Don’t downplay the significance of these feelings, even if you don’t understand where they are coming from. Individuals who struggle with mental health issues often experience emotions in an intense way, making it difficult for them to overcome their feelings on their own. Your loved one may make comments such as “what’s the point?” Or “I don’t think I’ll ever feel better.” It is often difficult for those who are struggling to see past the feelings they are currently experiencing, and they may begin to think that they are going to feel this way forever. Expressing a desire to hurt themselves or others is a serious indicator that someone needs professional help and must be addressed immediately. Should a loved one make references to self-injury, suicide, or harming others (For example, saying things like “You’d be better off without me”) it is important to get them to a safe place where they can be evaluated by a mental health professional right away. Your local emergency room is a place that can do this.