You don’t need to wait for a crisis to benefit from therapy. Signs you might find counseling helpful include feeling persistently anxious, sad, or overwhelmed, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite, withdrawing from loved ones, or struggling with major life transitions. Even if you simply feel “off” or unsure of yourself, therapy can provide clarity, tools, and support. At Joining With Empathy, we often remind clients: if you’re asking the question, it may already be a good time to start.

While everyone’s experience is unique, some common mental health concerns include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders
• Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders (These disorders, we would refer you to a trusted professional)
• Substance use disorders
• Stress and adjustment disorders

Therapy can help with these challenges by offering coping strategies, emotional support, and evidence-based treatment.

Therapy can take many forms, but four widely recognized approaches are:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape present challenges.
• Humanistic Therapy: Centers on personal growth, self-awareness, and fulfilling potential.
• Behavioral Therapy: Uses structured techniques to change behaviors (often used for phobias or OCD).

At Joining With Empathy, we also integrate other evidence-based modalities like DBT, ACT, and trauma-informed approaches depending on your needs.

Yes. Crying in therapy is very normal. Many clients feel a sense of release when expressing emotions they’ve been holding in. Therapy is designed to be a safe, supportive space where you don’t have to hide how you feel. Tears can be part of healing and often signal that you’re opening up in an authentic way.

There isn’t a single “most effective” type of therapy—it depends on your goals, personality, and the challenges you’re facing. For example, CBT is highly effective for anxiety and depression, EFT works well for couples, and trauma-focused approaches help with PTSD. What matters most is the fit between you and your therapist. At Joining With Empathy, we use an integrative approach to match each client with the methods that best support their unique journey.

Online therapy is a very good and, in many cases, effective option, especially for people with mild to moderate depression, anxiety, PTSD, or similar disorders, or people who have significant barriers to doing in-person therapy. It can be as good as in-person therapy for many. But it’s not a perfect substitute in every case; for severe or complex issues, or when there are safety concerns, it may need to be complemented with in-person care or other supports.