Find Local Therapists Near You: Key Steps to Kickstart Your Mental Health Journey
Last Updated on March 27, 2025 by Prath
Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
- Published on 27 March 2025
If you’re thinking of starting therapy, you may find yourself ruminating over questions like, “Do I actually need it?”, “Does therapy work?”, “How do I find the right therapist near me?”, “What are the steps I need to take?” etc.
You may be confused and anxious about beginning therapy, or you may be unsure about how to find therapists near you.
No matter which stage you’re in, this blog is a mini-guide that will help you navigate the process of recognising the need for and kickstarting your mental health journey.
This Article Contains:
Are There Any Pre-Requisites for Starting Therapy?
Anxiety, depression, OCD – are mental health concerns like these the only reasons why someone should reach out for support?
Societal conditioning and stigma around mental health have led us to believe that you can seek therapy only if you have a mental illness that strongly impairs life.
While such concerns do stand as reasons for a majority, they are in no way a prerequisite for seeking mental health support.
We’re here to remind you that there is no one-size-fits-all guide on when or why someone should start therapy. It is a highly personal decision, and the only requisite to start is that you want to!
4 Simple Steps to Start Your Mental Health Journey
Starting therapy may feel overwhelming.
We’re here to remind you that it doesn’t have to be!
By following the five simple steps in the upcoming sections, you can start your mental health journey with calm and confidence.
1) Understanding When to Seek Therapy
The first step in kickstarting your mental health journey is knowing when to do so.
Although there are no prerequisites for starting therapy, below are some common signs that may show mental health support can improve the quality of your life.
Take your time to read through the signs and make note of the ones that resonate with you most.
If and when you decide to approach a therapist near you, discussing these signs with them can be a great starting point for your therapeutic journey.
a) Listen to Your Body
Your body is a walking, talking transmitter that alerts you whenever something is astray, physically or mentally. Your mental health is closely linked to physical health, and your body will soon reflect any changes in your mental health as warning signs.
These red flags may include:
- Changes in sleep and hunger patterns
- Gut issues like nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea and constipation
- Body pain and muscle tension
- Tension headaches and migraines
- Low energy levels
- Palpitations and chest tightness
b) Drastic Changes in Everyday Life
If you have been experiencing any sudden and drastic changes in your day-to-day life, therapy may help improve your mental health as well as your quality of life.
Below are some changes that may strongly affect your life:
- Extreme mood swings
- Behavioural changes
- Feelings of dissociation and emptiness
- Trauma and grief
c) Physical Health Issues
Just like mental health issues may trigger physical symptoms, physical illnesses may very much affect your mental health. Unforeseen injuries and chronic diseases may require you to make drastic changes to your lifestyle to process and deal with them.
Therapy for physical health issues can help you manage the emotions surrounding treatment and recovery (such as uncertainty, stress, anxiety and grief) and ensure a better state of mind and quality of life.
d) Your Relationships Get Affected
Have you ever been randomly angry or irritable with a loved one for no fault of theirs? Or involuntarily distanced yourself by withdrawing from relationships? When we spend a large part of our lives with certain people, it is natural for one person’s moods and mental health to affect the other.
However, if this starts happening consistently and to the extent that it negatively impacts your close relationships, it might be time to take a step back and evaluate what may be going on behind the scenes.
e) History of Mental Health Issues
Mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) may cause varying levels of distress, hamper your everyday life and even stop you from doing the things you want to.
If you’re struggling with any such mental health issue or disorder, therapy can help manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Remember that no reason is more or less valid – you don’t need to fall under a particular category or tick certain boxes to seek therapy. More importantly, there is no such thing as a wrong reason or the wrong time to ask for help.
Therapy can help with anxiety, depression, mood swings, and more. You are not alone.
2) Researching Different Types & Approaches
Before exploring therapists near you, it’s important to research the different types of therapy available. Therapists in Singapore may also specialise in various approaches and techniques.
Different types and approaches of therapy may work better for different concerns. It is thus crucial to understand the options available and decide which one is the right fit for you.
a) Types of Therapy
Some common types of therapy services are as follows:
- Individual therapy
- Couples therapy
- Marriage therapy
- Family therapy
- Child therapy
It can be fairly easy to decide which type of therapy you should select by taking a broad look at your goals. For instance, if you’re planning to work on yourself, you’d choose individual therapy, and if you’re looking to improve your relationship with a spouse, you’d go for marriage counselling.
b) Types of Therapeutic Approaches
With the field of psychotherapy growing every day, you may see a sea of therapeutic approaches available.
Considering the approaches followed by therapists near you can help narrow down your search.
Once you’ve shortlisted the approaches, take your time to research them well.
Here are some widely practised therapeutic approaches:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT works by reframing negative thoughts and replacing them with a rational response. It’s a hands-on approach that can equip you with many tools and coping strategies.
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): A structured approach often used for improving emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. DBT is the preferred approach for mental health concerns like borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- Psychodynamic Therapy: This type of speech therapy uncovers and analyses past experiences to understand present behavioural patterns.
- Humanistic Therapy: It’s a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the individual and their self-growth, self-awareness, self-acceptance, etc.
- Eclectic or Holistic Therapy: A flexible approach where therapists may combine aspects of different approaches based on unique individual needs.
3) Exploring Therapists Near You
Once you have an idea of the type and approach of therapy that you’d like to choose, the next step is to find a therapist near you.
Search for therapists in Singapore who provide the kind of approach you’ve finalised.
At Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), you can review profiles of Therapists near you by reading their descriptions and watching their introductory videos. Doing so can help you understand the following:
- The qualifications and certifications that they hold
- Type of service and approaches that they offer
- Languages that they provide therapy in
- The cost at which they offer therapy sessions
- Modes in which they offer therapy
4) Making Initial Contact & Booking Your First Therapy Session
Reaching out to a therapist near you for the first time may feel intimidating. But remember that it’s a straightforward process!
Therapists are trained mental health professionals. They are trained to be open, welcoming and understanding.
When you first talk to a therapist in Singapore, you can voice any concerns or ask any questions that you may have. They’d be more than happy to help you navigate the beginning of your mental health journey.
Some therapists near you may also offer an initial consultation – a short precursor to therapy, where you and your therapist can get to know each other better.
Once you’ve decided on a therapist in Singapore and scheduled your first session, here’s a quick guide on preparing for your first therapy session!
Key Takeaways
Whether you’re exploring therapy to navigate a long-term mental health concern or simply want to talk to someone, Singapore Therapists at TYHO are here for you. They create a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can set your mental health goals and work towards them at your own pace.
If you’re still unsure about starting therapy, check out this article that explores the topic further.
No matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to go through it alone – we’re here to help you get the support you need. Reach out to a TYHO Therapist near you to kickstart your mental health journey!
