When Should You Find A Therapist?

Sometimes people aren’t sure if counseling will help. And, while we can’t make that decision for you, we hope this helps explain some of the more common problems we see and how therapy can help. Every individual is different, and the only one that can make the decision to reach out to see if therapy is right for you is you. We hope this helps as a general guideline.

Most of us experience times when we need help to deal with problems and issues that cause us emotional distress like anxiety or depression or even with grief, loss, and other life transitions. When you are having a problem or dilemma that is making you feel overwhelmed, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained therapy professional. Professional therapists offer the caring, expert assistance that people need during stressful times.

Some of the more common problems we see in therapy are:

(People seek therapy for many different reasons. These are some of the most common.)

1.      You feel unhappy most of the time.

2.      You worry all the time and are unable to find the solutions to your problems.

3.      You feel extremely sad and helpless.

4.      You feel nervous, anxious, and worried most of the time.

5.      You have panic attacks.

6.      You have a hard time concentrating.

7.      Your emotional state is affecting your daily life: your sleep, eating habits, job, and relationships.

8.      You are having a hard time functioning from day to day. Your emotional state is affecting your performance at work or school.

9.      Your behavior is harmful to yourself or to others.

10.  You are feeling impatient and angry with someone you are taking care of.

11.  You are having problems with your family members or in other important relationships.

12.  You or someone you care about has problems with substance abuse or other addictions.

13.  You are the victim of sexual abuse or domestic violence.

14.  You have an eating disorder.

15.  You are having trouble getting over the death of someone you loved.

16.  You or someone you love has a serious illness and you are having a hard time with it.

17.  You feel lonely and isolated.

18.  You are experiencing problems in a sexual relationship.

19.  Your family has a lot of conflict and tension.

20.  You are experiencing a divorce or marital separation.

21.  You are having a hard time coping with change.

22.  You often feel afraid, angry, or guilty.

23.  You have a hard time setting and reaching goals.

24.  Your child is having problems with behavior or school performance.

25.  Your family is stressed because someone is ill.

26.  You have a hard time talking with your partner, children, parents, family members, friends, or coworkers.

27.  You are having problems dealing with your own sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of someone you care about.

28.  You are planning to marry, and you have some concerns.

29.  You have gotten a divorce and your family needs help adjusting.

30.  You are part of a blended family and need help learning to live together.

We are licensed clinical social workers. So what does that mean?

Clinical social workers have earned their MSW which entails detailed study and training from an accredited school. We must have also completed a supervised internship before passing a state licensing exam. The social worker is able to diagnose, treat, and provide support for many types of mental health issues. Social workers are also trained to pay attention to the environmental forces that may contribute to the individual’s life problems.

Confidentiality

Clinical social workers have strict ethical guidelines governing privacy and confidentiality. Clients can expect that discussions will be kept confidential, except as otherwise required or permitted by law. Examples of times when confidentiality must be broken are when child abuse has occurred or where the client threatens violence against themselves or another person.

When you are looking for a therapy professional to help you address your issues, it is very important to ask about a therapist’s qualifications to treat your specific concerns. Qualifications go beyond education and passing the basic licensing requirements it’s especially important to consider ongoing training and the extent of that training, actual experience in the field and time spent practicing as well as any other certifications they may hold.

To learn more about our clinical therapeutic qualifications, please visit: Beth Kane, MSW, LCSW, DBCT, CMHIMP and Kevin Kane, MSW, LCSW