Who Could Benefit From It?

We all have times when we feel frightened, depressed, angry, or confused.  How can you tell if you or someone close to you needs professional help?  Begin by evaluating three important areas:

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• Self-esteem:  Do you understand your strengths, weaknesses, and values?  Do you like yourself?  Do you only recognize your weaknesses?  Do you consistently feel less valuable than others or take the blame for anything that goes wrong?

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• Activity Level:  Do you participate in a variety of social and career activities?  Is your activity level passively low or frenzied but unproductive?  Are you doing too little toward getting what you want?

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• Connectedness:  Do you have social acquaintances?  A number of familiar friends?  At least one or two family members with whom you talk candidly and share feelings?

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After you've rated yourself, check your perceptions by asking an honest friend or relative to rate you, too.

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If you're considering therapy, it's normal to have some doubts and fears.  Whatever they are, it's important to tell the therapist how you're feeling.  Problems must be accurately defined before they can be solved; this can happen only when the therapist has a complete picture of your situation.