Do I Need Therapy?
There's no threshold you have to cross before therapy "counts" as appropriate. People start therapy for reasons ranging from a specific crisis to simply wanting a space to think out loud. This page isn't a diagnostic tool - it's a way to think through the question yourself.
Signals worth paying attention to
- Something is affecting your sleep, appetite, concentration or energy for more than a couple of weeks
- You're relying on avoidance or unhealthy coping habits more than you'd like
- A specific situation - grief, a relationship, work stress, a life transition - feels bigger than you can process alone
- You keep circling the same thoughts without getting anywhere
- People close to you have mentioned they're concerned
- You simply want an objective, confidential space to think things through
None of these on their own means you "need" therapy in some official sense - and you don't need to meet a severity bar to make it worth trying.
"I don't think it's bad enough"
This is one of the most common reasons people delay starting therapy, and it's rarely a good filter. Therapy isn't reserved for crises - a lot of people use it preventatively, or just to build better tools for managing everyday stress before things escalate.
If it feels urgent
If you're in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, that's not a "figure out if therapy is right for me" situation - see our crisis resources or contact local emergency services now.
If you're just not sure what you'd even look for
That's completely normal, and it's exactly what the Support Finder is for - a few short questions, then a few options to explore, not a verdict.
See what kinds of support might be worth exploring for your situation.
Find My Support Options →