5 Signs It Might Be Time to Start Therapy
Whether you got into your top college choice early decision or feel you had to settle for one of your back-ups, college life is an adjustment. Perhaps you’re in a new state or country, or maybe you’re in your hometown. Regardless, things are just different. Academic life no longer means being stuck in the same building from morning to afternoon. Instead, you have lectures and discussion groups scattered throughout the week, and throughout campus. You probably have many more readings or problem sets to complete, too. Then there’s your social life. Between sports teams, clubs, greek life, and friends from your classes, you are part of a new community with various sub-groups. With that, comes new social dynamics to navigate. Not to mention, this may be your first extended time away from your home and family!
All of these changes may leave you feeling overwhelmed, struggling to define yourself in your new environment, and grappling with early adulthood.
Working with a therapist during this period can provide a sanctuary to unload your thoughts and anxieties. Read on for some signs it may be time to start looking for that nurturing space.
You found this blog post
Oftentimes a part of us knows or feels it is time to do something before the whole of us accepts or decides on it. If you’re reading this post, a small or big part of you may be acknowledging it is time for you to find a therapist to work with. You may not have a big reason or even have a sense of why you feel this way. What’s important is that you have the instinct, a gut feeling. Listen to it.
While there are many reasons to begin a relationship with a therapist, the sole reason can also just be because you wanted to and felt it was time. That’s usually one of the best times to start.
You’re in an adjustment period
As stated in the first sentence of this post, the beginning of your college years is an adjustment period. In many ways, the entire three to four years can feel like an in-between time in which you can be both fully immersed in your present academic and social life but also preparing for the adulthood which awaits you on the other side.
During periods of transition, it can be helpful to have a resource that exists outside of the everyday life you are trying to navigate. Therapy can become a space for you to process all of the shifts in your life in a way that makes you feel prepared for the newness coming your way when you leave your session.
You want to grow into yourself
The new space and dynamics of college life may be prompting you to further discover and define yourself. You may also want to make sure you don’t lose yourself in all the new people and communities you’re interacting with.
Working with a therapist can help you guide this period of self-growth and self-definition in a manner that honors your inner-child while also helping you understand the path you would like to take in your adulthood.
You want help navigating your personal life
Making friends, navigating friend groups, socializing at parties, and finding romantic connections oftentimes define college life years. Whether or not you were social in your high school years, your college experience will most likely be different in at least some ways. Your parents most likely no longer have the power over who you hang out with and when.
While this may be relieving, the pressure of having the onus on you may also feel like too much to handle. It’s important to set boundaries and know your limitations. Forming a relationship with your therapist can involve practicing boundary-setting. You can read more about forming invisible boundaries here.
You want to manage the expectations you place on yourself
There can be an intense pressure to succeed in college. Whether it be getting into your favorite club, getting an A on your final paper or exam, securing the internship you’ve always wanted, or all three and more, you are most likely handling a lot of stress and anxiety.
While certain levels of these emotions can be healthy, starting therapy can help you manage stressful situations through self-acceptance and placing your goals in a larger context and perspective.
And remember…
You don’t need a reason/ a crisis/ a major “holy sh*t everything’s falling apart” moment to start therapy. It can just be a feeling. That being said, there are many signs it may be time to find that safe space in your life. Working with a therapist can help you grow into yourself, establish boundaries, and set healthy expectations in your life.
If that sounds appealing to you, at Gluck Psychology Collective, we specialize in helping millennials and Gen Z clients navigate the complex transitions that come with adulthood — from shifting friendships and evolving identities to new relationships, careers, and “new normals.” Therapy is where you can pause, reflect, and realign with who you’re becoming. Check out our specialties here.
We’re accepting new clients — click here to schedule your free 15-minute consultation
We cannot wait to meet you!
