Adult Therapy in Seattle

Common Reasons to Begin Counseling

Restless and Nervous  

Are you constantly feeling stressed and exhausted? You’re not alone. And when you finally sit down to relax, instead of unwinding, you feel restless—like you’ve forgotten something or that everything and everyone depends on you. Those peaceful moments you crave? They’ve become rare because you’re always on edge.

It’s hard to go with the flow when anxiety keeps creeping in. You’re the one who fixes everything, and being prepared makes you feel safe, giving you a sense of control. But that control never lasts long. The worries set in, and before you know it, your mind is racing with thoughts like, “What if…?” or “What’s next?”

Tired and Ruminating 

By now, you’ve gotten used to a glass or two of wine at night to quiet your thoughts and unwind—but the next day, you feel awful. You start your morning with coffee, only to find yourself jittery, triggering more anxiety. It’s a roller-coaster, and sleep feels like yet another battle.

When bedtime comes, your mind replays the day on a loop. You struggle to fall asleep, or worse—you wake up in the middle of the night with racing thoughts, staring at the clock. “Why can’t I sleep?” you wonder. “I have to get up in 4 hours… 3 hours… 2 hours…”

You start to worry—Do I have insomnia? After all, waking up at 2 or 3 a.m. with a flood of thoughts has become the norm.

Perfectionism  

You hold yourself to the highest standards, making sure every detail is just right. Letting go and trusting someone else to handle things? That feels nearly impossible. So, you take it all on yourself—working tirelessly, double-checking everything, just in case.

But then, your inner critic steps in: What if I missed something? Maybe I should go over it one more time.

Even when others praise your work, doubt creeps in. Do they really mean it? you wonder. You push yourself harder, yet no matter how much you do, exhaustion takes over. It feels like you can never quite catch up.

If perfectionism is weighing you down, you don’t have to carry it alone. Together, we can quiet that inner critic, ease the pressure, and help you find balance.

Feeling Alone 

You have a circle of friends, but no matter how hard you try, you never quite feel like you belong. So, you smile, go along with the conversation, and do your best to fit in. But inside, the anxious thoughts don’t stop: What if they realize I don’t really belong? What if I say the wrong thing?

You carefully plan what you’ll say, rehearsing the perfect response—only to feel awkward and frustrated afterward. Later, you replay the entire conversation in your mind, second-guessing yourself and wishing you had said something different.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Together, we can uncover the patterns holding you back, quiet that inner critic, and help you build confidence in yourself and your relationships.

Physical Symptoms 

Lately, out of nowhere, you've been feeling strange physical symptoms. At first, you brushed it off as just everyday stress—but recently, it’s been getting worse. The other day, you went from feeling numb to completely tingly. Your heart was racing, your chest felt tight, and no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn’t catch your breath.

It might have been a panic attack. And it was scary.

Now, you're realizing it’s time for support—someone who truly understands what you’re going through and can help you navigate this. You're not alone, and you don’t have to figure this out by yourself. I’m here to help.

Any of these sound familiar?