How do I know if I need help?

Notice what’s changed for you: sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, interest in things you usually enjoy, or how easily you get through everyday tasks. It’s worth talking with a health care professional when these changes persist, get worse or interfere with daily life, especially if the things you normally do to cope aren’t helping.

These experiences can have different causes, so this check in cannot tell you whether you need treatment. You can ask for help before you have a label or a clear explanation. Read NIMH’s guide to knowing when to seek help

Keeping up with work, school or other responsibilities doesn’t tell the whole story. Notice whether it takes much more effort than before, whether you’re enjoying less, or whether worry and emotions leave little room for rest or connection.

You don’t have to wait until you can’t cope to bring those concerns to a licensed mental health professional. If your main concern is a goal or decision and you’d like structure or accountability, you can also ask about coaching. Coaching is not mental health treatment.

No. This is an original self reflection guide, not a validated clinical screening tool. It doesn’t diagnose, assign symptom scores or assess suicide risk. A licensed mental health professional can discuss your symptoms, history and care needs with you.

Therapy may be worth exploring when feelings, stress, grief, relationships or recurring patterns are taking up more space than you’d like. Notice whether they affect rest, routines, work or connection with others. You can also seek therapy to understand yourself or grow; you don’t need a diagnosis or a crisis to begin a conversation.

If daily life is becoming harder, ask a licensed mental health professional about your needs. You don’t have to wait for things to get worse. Learn about psychotherapy from NIMH

Life coaching may be worth exploring when you want clarity around a goal, decision, habit or life direction, and would value structure and accountability. For example, you might want to explore a career change, build confidence around a goal or turn an intention into practical steps.

Coaching does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. If distress is making it difficult to function or work toward goals, start by discussing your needs with a licensed mental health professional. Feeling productive doesn’t rule out a need for therapy.

Therapy can address emotional distress and mental health conditions, as well as relationships, coping and personal growth. Coaching focuses on goals, choices and follow through. Both can involve reflection and practical change; therapy isn’t only about the past, and coaching isn’t the only place to work on the future.

The important difference is scope: coaching is not mental health treatment. Ask about the provider’s qualifications, the service being offered and what sessions would involve. Read ICF’s guidance on when coaching needs a referral

You don’t have to choose a label before asking for support. Bring what you’d like to understand or change to a welcome meeting. Therapy can include goals and practical steps. In some situations, therapy and coaching can address different needs alongside each other; talk with the professionals involved about fit, roles and coordination.

Start with the information you need: fees, availability, who you’d work with or what happens in a session. A welcome meeting is a chance to ask those questions without committing to ongoing sessions.

They are used only to create the summary you see on this page. They aren’t sent to Sound Advice, saved by this check in or added to a booking or contact link. Refreshing, leaving or closing the page clears the choices. If you contact the team, you choose what to share separately.

The reflection questions are for adults exploring their own needs. If you choose a child, teen or another adult at the first step, we’ll show a direct contact route so you can ask about suitable services without answering personal questions for them.

You don’t need to finish this check in. For immediate emotional or crisis support in the U.S., call or text 988. If there is immediate danger or a life threatening emergency, call 911. See immediate support options