When is it time to talk to a therapist?

Huh! Life isn't what you thought it would be.

What now? You just got bad news from your doctor.

Yikes, you're getting married! Or

Grrr... your boss is driving you crazy.

The reasons for going into therapy are as numerous as are patients. Even those who come to treatment with similar problems, such as issues with parents or children, experience their struggle in a way that is uniquely theirs, even unique to other members of that same family. Likewise, only you can determine if it is the right time for you to talk to a therapist.

Has someone told you that you need help? As difficult as it is to hear that, therapy might be the place to sort through the complexities of "It's not all you - it's also me." Usually, when people begin to change as a result of therapy, their relationships improve.

You don't need to be on the verge of harming yourself to reach out for help. Actually, some of the most productive work in therapy comes from those who enter treatment specifically as an investment in themselves - to become more self-aware, more clear about what they want, more capable of making good decisions, more productive in work, and generally more satisfied with life. The point is ...

... you don't have to get there alone.

A psychoanalytic psychotherapist is there to think with you about what what you are saying, listening as well to what you are not saying, and pondering how it may relate to the ways that you struggle. I think of it as helping my patients to develop better cognitive and emotional processes for themselves. Your stories are important, and I will be especially curious about what patterns emerge and what dynamics are at play in the type of stories you present.

So when is it time to talk to a therapist? If you are reading this, the time is probably now. It's true that therapy is an investment in time and money, as well as in emotional energy. A few sessions with a good therapist should tell you a lot more about your readiness and whether you are likely to benefit. Whether you contact another therapist or me, I hope you will reach out soon. In the meantime, please enjoy other readings on this site and feel free to contact me with any questions. And P.S. - I hope you choose me!