How Do You Know If You Should See a Psychologist?

Life is rarely without difficulties, and lots of us will feel overwhelmed at some point in our life. We may find that mounting difficulties become overwhelming, or a larger factor in life may cause some difficulty in adjusting. We are often expected in our personal and professional lives to be 100%, 100% of the time, but this just isn’t realistic or healthy. It’s perfectly normal to experience ups and downs, to struggle, and to need a helping hand at times. 

What do people see a psychologist for?

A psychologist can assist us in understanding the core of our overwhelming feelings, can help us process difficult emotions, stresses, or events, and often having a safe space to share innermost feelings can have extraordinary benefits as well. Seeing a professional can help us gain a different perspective on our difficulties and situations that cause us to feel overwhelmed and may help us gather awareness and insight into our recurring issues.  

How do I know if I should see a psychologist:

You can start therapy for any difficulty you face; whether a long-term and recurring factor, or a recent and short-lived issue; and everything in between. If you are unsure if you need the extra support, consider some of these factors:

You are no longer interested in your previous hobbies, find it difficult to stay motivated or focused, or feel a sense of helplessness or sadness that doesn’t go away.

Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness are common symptoms of depression. 

While some people believe that you can “snap out” of depression, this is rarely the case. Depression is a common mental health disorder in which people lose interest in things, become tired, and frequently struggle to manage their emotions. 

Psychologists can assist you in determining the source of your depression, which is often the first step towards feeling better and dealing with negative thought processes. Therapy can also help you build skills and strategies to navigate these larger depressive episodes, as well as normal dips and variances in mood. It is important to note you don’t need to have depression to be able to see a psychologist for low mood. 

Your friends keep telling you they are concerned about you.

It is hard to notice our patterns, however, our friends can quickly notice our patterns. If your close friends ask you if you are okay, they might have noticed changes in your patterns. If they suggest you see someone, you should probably consider seeing a psychologist. 

You are having trouble with relationships in life, or your actions are hurting yourself and others.

Our relationships are very core to us as social beings. We may notice our personal difficulties more easily or commonly get reflected in our connections with others. We may feel our relationships are a source of stress and difficulty for us, or we may have patterns of connection that cause us pain or challenge. 

Those around us may also be directly affected by our own wellbeing, and this can be a good sign to get some extra support.

The most important relationships in our lives require work, attention, and care; don’t forget we also deserve the same kind of attention and care. 

You find yourself leaning on substances or unhealthy behaviours to cope. 

Some unhealthy habits, such as smoking, drinking, and drug use, are frequently used to avoid or self-medicate more significant underlying problems. 

Some of these problems may be plain to you, and some of them may be useful to discuss in therapy 

While your psychologist will assist you in addressing those issues, they can also help you in addressing other problems and behaviours that are currently affecting your health, such as: 

  • Eating disorders and addictions 
  • Relationship habits and patterns
  • Sleeping difficulties

You feel overwhelmed and overstressed easily or regularly.

Noticing a difficulty in managing day-to-day stresses can be a sign from your body and mind that you’re over-exhausted, over-extended, or need different ways to manage the challenges being presented to you. This could be a sudden thing turning up due to a big change or adjustment in life, or something that has crept up over time amongst several stresses from life. Either way, something that therapy can help you manage.

Everyday activities become difficult or tiring, or you feel fatigued and lack energy even if you sleep well.

If you struggle with psychological or emotional difficulties, it can affect your work performance and lifestyle at home. You may find even the simplest of activities are becoming more tiring or difficult. Your motivation may be struggling, or you may notice no matter how much rest you get, your body and mind keep asking for more. Each of these can be another indication that you require some extra support, and professional help though a psychologist can help you iron out these issues.

You would like to learn more about yourself, build your insight and awareness, and develop a clarity of mind.

Seeing a psychologist never means there’s something wrong with you. Struggle is all a part of the human experience. But you don’t need to be in distress to have a benefit from psychology. A psychologist can assist you in improving your mental clarity by acting as an objective set of ears. People frequently discover their solutions simply by hearing themselves speak aloud in therapy. Simply getting your problems out can help improve mental clarity, concentration, and task orientation. It’s a great perspective builder. 

Other factors you may be navigating that could use some therapeutic assistance may include:

  • You find yourself worrying excessively or struggle to see the positives in life
  • You feel trapped in patterns of behaviour that you don’t like or are unhealthy
  • You feel stuck and have difficulty making life choices 

If you have noticed some of these things happening in your life, know that you are not alone. If you are looking for a psychologist in Rockingham, Western Australia, to help you get over your depression or mental health issues, feel free to contact Sound Psychology. 

You don’t need to have a specific issue to get therapy. Sometimes, people need someone to talk to who will listen without judgement, allowing them to explore different thoughts and feelings they might not usually get the chance to. A counsellor may also be able to refer you to helpful resources and suggest lifestyle changes that will ease the symptoms of specific issues.

There’s a common misconception that therapy is only for the weak or it’s only needed for deep, dark issues. The truth is, therapy can benefit anybody, and it’s a lot more common than most people think. It might be something you never even considered before, but there is no shame in seeking support from a qualified professional if your mental health is suffering.

Our Approach

Sound Psychology is your place if you’re looking for a therapeutic service that can help you thrive. With experienced psychologists who have worked with people from all walks of life, we are well-equipped to help you overcome whatever challenges you’re facing. 

We focus on assisting our clients in discovering and making positive changes in their lives, developing a better understanding of themselves, which helps them improve their relationships with others, enhances communication, increases self-esteem, and begins to thrive in their lives.

Our approach is to work with you as a whole person, not just your concern. We aim to understand the ways your life is affected by these challenges and together develop an individualised plan of care that addresses them holistically. We aim to help you thrive, even after our counselling sessions.

How to Proceed? 

It’s probably easier than you think to find the right help. You can contact us by phone or email to schedule an appointment with a therapist or counsellor best suited to your needs. You can have a look at our ‘About Us’ page on our website to learn more about our clinicians to see who you feel may be best for you. 

Once you’ve decided you would like to see us, it may be a good idea to approach your GP and ask for a Mental Health Care Plan. We at Sound Psychology work with Medicare to provide rebates and financial assistance to those who have a GP referral. Feel free to ask our friendly staff for more information if you require. 

We are honoured to be on the ancestral lands of the Nyoongar people: the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respects to the Whadjuk and Binjareb Nyoongar people whose land we live and work from, and pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging.