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This blog answers your question: when is the right time to start therapy in Simi Valley? You may be hesitant to begin, and keep going back and forth on starting. There are valid reasons to not be sure when to start therapy. Some days you’re really going through it, and want to begin your search for a therapist.
However, when things start to feel resolved, you feel like you can hold off on therapy a bit longer. You’re not in crisis or danger, and want to try to work things out yourself. This applies to individuals, couples, and families. Everything starts to feel okay, until it doesn’t again.
You may be struggling with one or several issues. This includes heavy past trauma, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, or more. It could be that you already have a therapy history, and fall back on coping skills that are helpful. Some time has passed though, or new things have been happening in your life.
So, when is it the right time to start therapy in Simi Valley? There’s a few things you can consider, to aid you in decision making. Consider working with one of our Simi Valley therapists, who hold sessions in-person. We also have a blog answering questions on how long you should be in therapy!
Early intervention is effective
Early intervention into mental health conditions is proven to be effective in several ways. Seeking treatment can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the impact of mental health conditions. Early intervention can also prevent more severe complications down the road, according to FundaMental Change.
By accessing treatment and support early on, individuals can have better long-term well-being. For example, your teen may be struggling with their mental health. They’re losing interest in activities, isolating themselves, or are increasingly irritable. By starting early intervention, they can develop coping skills, self-awareness, and improve their communication.
As we grow older, we go through many different phases of our lives. This relates to personal growth, relationships, school and work, or more. We experience love, loss, grief, devastation, and more. Therefore, it’s good to establish yourself with support, especially if you are aware of upcoming life transitions.
Further benefits for early intervention include:
- Social and emotional development enhancement.
- Reduces stigma and promotes awareness.
- Increases access to care.
- Improves functioning and overall quality of life.
- Promotes family well-being.
Even if you are seeking out individual treatment as an adult, it makes a difference to start sooner than later. You can begin feeling relief, reach therapeutic goals, and independently cope. There are many benefits to starting therapy at any age.
We offer in-person therapy in Simi Valley, CA! Make sure to read our blog on How to Find the Best Fit Therapist.
Symptom frequency and intensity
Start therapy when you notice your symptoms are recurring or increasing in intensity. One example for starting therapy is when struggling with depression. You feel that you’re drifting through life, kind-of able to attend to daily tasks. In the past, there haven’t been many functioning issues with sleeping, socializing, or practicing hygiene.
However, you’re noticing that everyday is starting to feel more draining. You’re struggling to go to sleep at a decent hour and attend to daily tasks the next day. Thoughts of suicide are feeling more persistent, and are causing you to feel distressed.
Your symptoms are growing in frequency and intensity. At this point, it’s good to consider starting therapy in Simi Valley. You don’t have to go through this alone, and help is readily available for you. Consider reading our blog on First Time in Therapy: What to Expect.
988 is a lifeline for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, offering free, confidential, and accessible support 24/7/365.
If you’re struggling with trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder, your symptoms can drastically interfere with everyday functioning. You may have changes in sleep, feelings of overwhelm, and more. Unhealed trauma can be heavy to carry alone. Therefore, it’s recommended to start trauma therapy in Simi Valley, CA. We offer trauma-informed therapy, in-person at our office. Make sure to read our blog on How to Process Trauma, to understand how we treat trauma.
Consistency is key – what’s your availability for therapy in Simi Valley?
Understand where in your weekly schedule you could fit an hour therapy session. For those in school, sports, and work, this availability may be tricky. On top of that, you may be navigating childcare or family care. However, this hour is dedicated to you and your well-being. Where can it fit into your schedule?
Depending on the therapist, scheduling can be different. Some therapists, like us at New Leaf MFT, usually keep patients on a recurring time and day. Others are more flexible, where you can jump around to different times and days. Doing virtual therapy can offer even more flexibility by avoiding commuting.
If you’re committed to a lot in the next few months, it may be a good idea to hold off until things settle. Consistency in therapy is very important. While it’s good to get the ball rolling, the progress also depends upon you showing up for therapy.
Are you saying that I shouldn’t establish connection with a therapist if I have a few busy weeks ahead of me?
Absolutely not. The fact that you’re even planning ahead to ensure you’ve found a good fit therapist is amazing! So much can happen in between your first session and the next. When you’re able to establish rapport with your therapist upfront, they can develop a better understanding of you.
This impacts your therapy as your therapist isn’t constantly playing catch-up. They are knowledgeable about what’s going on for you and the important factors bringing you to therapy. They are also able to track progress towards goals, symptoms, functioning, and more.
Alongside this, you aren’t having to explain who people are, what you do, etc., in every session. It’s okay to take breaks from therapy, and return with new life updates. At the beginning of therapy, however, consistency is key. It benefits you and your therapeutic outcomes in the long run.
Financial commitment
Oftentimes, there is a financial commitment when attending therapy sessions. There are free or low-cost clinics, insurance providers, or private providers in the mental health field. It’s important that you’re getting started in therapy with a provider that will not add more stress, especially around finances.
Let’s say for example that you find a private therapist who seems really interesting, competent, and passionate about their work. Their experience aligns with what you’re hoping to address in session. They have the availability you need, and it feels like a perfect fit.
However, they have a session fee that is higher than what you’re able to afford weekly. You feel that you may be able to make a few sessions work paying their full fee. Once you’re starting to get into the hard work, however, finances feel tight and stressful.
What happens if I start with a therapist, but can no longer afford their services?
It’s always a good idea to check in with your therapist about the possibility of a sliding scale after a few sessions together. This is usually common with private practices who do not work with any forms of insurance. You and your therapist will work together to come up with a plan to see if you’re able to continue working together.
In the event that sliding scales aren’t an option, your therapist may refer you out to someone else. This includes a provider that accepts your insurance, or a local clinic such as The CLU Counseling Center. In Simi Valley, there is also the Free Clinic of Simi Valley.
It’s more effective to get started with a therapist or group that you can work with long-term. This is essential for building a therapeutic relationship together. It can feel like you’re back at square one when you have to retell everything to a new therapist.
In sum, seeking out mental health treatment, no matter the time, is important and beneficial. Putting it off can lead to increased symptoms, interference with daily functioning, and more. By putting yourself out there to start your therapeutic journey, you’re taking care of yourself.
This blog is meant to provide you with different perspectives around starting therapy. Not all potential factors are considered, but these are some main ones you may have. To reiterate, you should always seek out mental health treatment when symptoms are feeling difficult to manage. We are passionate about connecting individuals to treatment that is the best fit for their needs.
In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues.
By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either. By clicking here, you’ll read our blog on Information About Simi Valley Therapists.
Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!
Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.