How do I know if I need to see a psychologist? Signs worth listening to

You don’t have to be at breaking point

Many people arrive at their first session with the same words: “I don’t know if what I’m going through is serious enough.” They’ve been mulling it over for months, comparing themselves with people who have it worse, convinced they should be able to sort it out on their own.

Seeing a psychologist isn’t only for moments of crisis. It’s also for understanding what’s happening to you, making a difficult decision or stopping repeating something that hurts you. You don’t have to wait until you can’t take any more.

If you’re asking yourself the question, these signs can help you see things more clearly.

Eight signs it may be a good time

The distress lasts for weeks and won’t go away

We all have bad days. But if sadness, anxiety or irritability last for weeks and don’t improve even when you rest or have a change of scene, it’s a sign that something needs attention.

It affects your sleep, appetite or energy

You wake up in the early hours with your mind racing, eat much more or much less than before, or get up already tired. The body often warns us before we put it into words.

Everyday things are harder to manage

Work, studies, home or parenting take much more out of you than before. What you used to do without thinking now feels like a mountain.

You repeat the same pattern in your relationships

You end up with the same type of partner, the same arguments, the same feeling of not fitting in. When something keeps repeating, there’s usually a story behind it. We talk about this in why do I always fall for the same type of person.

Something has changed in your life and you don’t know where you stand

A separation, a bereavement, a move to another country, the arrival of a son or daughter, a change of job. Big changes stir up a lot inside, even the ones we’ve chosen.

The people around you no longer know how to help

Or you no longer want to burden them. Having someone to talk to is incredibly valuable, but some things need a space just for you, with someone who isn’t part of your life.

You use something so as not to feel

Your phone, work, food, alcohol, always keeping busy. If you notice you need it so as not to think about what’s happening to you, it’s worth looking at.

There’s a question that won’t leave you alone

Do I stay with my partner? Do I change jobs? Do I go or do I stay? Some decisions can’t be resolved by turning them over again and again. Talking it through with someone outside helps you hear what you want, without the noise of what others expect.

“But I’m not that bad”

It’s the phrase we hear most, and also the one that most delays asking for help. Comparing your distress with other people’s doesn’t make it smaller: it only means you carry it for longer.

The sooner you look at what’s going on, the easier it usually is to work on. You don’t have to prove you’re struggling enough to deserve a space for yourself.

What happens in a first session

It isn’t an exam and you don’t need to prepare anything. It’s a conversation: you tell us what has brought you here, at your own pace, and we ask you a few questions to understand your situation.

If you don’t know where to start, that’s fine too. “I’m not really sure what’s going on with me” is a good beginning.

At the end, we talk about how we could work together and you decide whether you want to continue. Feeling comfortable with the person supporting you is as important as their training.

How to choose who to see

• Check they’re registered. All psychologists working in Catalonia must be registered with the Col·legi Oficial de Psicologia de Catalunya. You can ask for their registration number.
• Check they’re qualified to provide therapy. Look for a general health psychologist or a specialist in clinical psychology.
• For couples or families, look for specific training. Check they’re accredited as a family and couples psychotherapist by an association such as FEAP or FEATF.
• Check they work with what you’re going through. Ask whether they have experience with issues like yours: grief, relationships, motherhood, anxiety.
• Make sure the format suits you. Online therapy works very well in many cases and saves you travelling. In-person therapy has something that some people need.
• Make sure you feel at ease. If after a couple of sessions you don’t feel comfortable, it’s fine to change.

When not to wait

If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, don’t wait for an appointment. Call 024, the suicide crisis line, free and available 24 hours a day. If there’s immediate danger, call 112 or go to the emergency department.

If you’ve recognised yourself here

You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step. At Me Siento Contigo we support individuals, couples and families, in Gràcia and online, in Catalan, Spanish and English: individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy and therapy for single-mother families.

Before we begin, we talk with you to understand what you need and who in the team is the best fit for you. If you’d like, you can message us on WhatsApp, with no obligation.