Symptoms That Often Bring People to TherapY

The following are some examples of what bring people to counseling.  Certainly, anything that is troubling you can be worth addressing in therapy. ​

• Feeling stuck
• Feeling sad or down most of the time
• Feeling hopeless
• Diminished interest or pleasure in doing things
• Having little energy/constant fatigue
• Difficulty falling/staying asleep or sleeping too much
• Self-loathing/ feelings of worthlessness
• Lack of confidence/self-esteem/feeling inferior to others
• Having excessive guilt
• Shame
• Difficulty concentrating /focusing/ making decisions
• Isolation/withdrawing from others
• Self-harming behavior
• Thoughts of wanting to die
• ​Grief and loss/bereavement
• Childhood abuse/neglect
• Trauma (past or recent)
• Multicultural concerns
• Discrimination
• Feelings related to sexual assault
• Repeating unhealthy patterns
• Questions around identity
• Self-exploration
• Wanting to find more meaning in your life
• Feeling confused much of the time
• Not knowing who you are/feeling cutoff from your emotions
• Experiences of "unreality" and detachment from yourself or your surroundings
• Concerns about your emotional stability
• Control issues (need to control/fear of losing control)
• Communication issues/difficulty expressing emotions
• Difficulty establishing boundaries/saying “No” (in personal and/or professional setting)
• Need to constantly please others (often at expense of your own well-being)
• Dependency issues

• Constant worrying
• Feeling nervous/anxious/tense much of the time
• Feelings of panic/panic attacks
• Feeling stressed/overwhelmed/under pressure
• Feeling “ burned out"
• ​Anxiety in social situations
• Feeling angry much of the time/temper outbursts/inability to regulate anger
• Irritability
• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
•  Inability to relax
• Feeling manic
• Mood swings
• Impulsivity
• Difficulty making/keeping friends
• Difficulty in social relationships
• Feeling pressured/controlled/manipulated by others 
• Commitment/intimacy issues
• Issues with trust
• Relationship challenges/breakup of a relationship
• Infidelity
• Divorce
• Sexual problems or concerns
• Family difficulties (family of origin or current)
• Challenges with parenting and aging parents
• Workplace/career issues
• Issues around retirement 
• Major life transitions
• Challenges with authority
• Jealousy
• Difficulty adjusting to new situations (job/move/relationship, etc.)​
• Concerns about weight/physical health/appearance​
• Concerns about finances
• Use/abuse of substances​
• ​Fear of death
• ​Fear of being alone
• Fear of abandonment

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Reproduced in part with permission of Haight Ashbury Psychological Services.