5 Signs It Might Be Time to Start Therapy

Published on: 8th August 2025

Let’s be real: deciding to try therapy isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes it’s a quiet whisper in the back of your mind. Other times it’s a full-blown meltdown in the middle of Sainsbury’s car park. Either way, it can be hard to tell when it’s the right time to reach out.

Here are five gentle signs that therapy might be worth considering:

1. You feel overwhelmed... by everything

If your to-do list makes you want to hide under a blanket, or small decisions feel ridiculously hard (what even is the right pasta shape?), it might be a sign your mind is overloaded. Therapy can help you make sense of what's going on underneath all that stress and give you tools to lighten the mental load.

2. You're stuck in the same patterns

Maybe you keep ending up in the same type of relationship. Or you always put everyone else first, then feel resentful. Or perhaps your inner critic has set up camp and refuses to leave. If you're repeating the same cycle and can't figure out why, therapy can help you uncover what’s keeping you stuck.

3. You're not sure who you are anymore

This one’s more common than you think. You might have spent so long taking care of others or fitting into roles — parent, partner, professional — that you've lost sight of you. Therapy is a space where you get to reconnect with your identity, values and voice.

4. You feel fine on the outside, but not on the inside

From the outside, you might look like you’re managing. You smile, make the jokes, show up at work. But internally, it’s a different story. If you're constantly holding it together or feeling emotionally numb, therapy can be a safe place to take the mask off and be honest.

5. You're just curious

Therapy isn’t only for when things go wrong. It’s also for personal growth, self-discovery, or finding a better way to live. Feeling curious about therapy is reason enough to explore it — you don’t need a crisis to get support.

Starting therapy doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re ready to meet yourself with a bit more care.

If any of this resonates, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. I’m here when you’re ready.

Contact me to find out more about how I work – sarah@sarahhandleytherapy.co.uk