Why You’re Not Broken: A Therapist’s Guide to Understanding the Voice in Your Head

You know that moment right before you fall asleep—when your mind replays the thing you said three days ago, or that task you forgot, or that feeling that you’re not doing enough?

The truth is, many high-functioning, emotionally aware women lie awake with the same thought:

"Why do I always feel like I’m messing something up?"

That voice in your head isn’t random. It’s a part of you that learned how to protect you. And understanding that part might be the first step to feeling less stuck.

You're Not a Problem to Solve

Most of the women I work with are incredibly insightful. You’ve done the journaling, read the books, listened to the podcasts. And still, the self-doubt creeps in.

You’re not failing at healing. You’re just carrying more than one version of yourself:

• The inner critic that says “Do better.”

• The perfectionist who won’t let things be easy.

• The people-pleaser who whispers, “Don’t rock the boat.”

These aren’t flaws, but strategies that show up when your nervous system wants to keep you safe from disappointment, shame, or rejection. But just because they’ve been there, doesn’t mean they need to lead anymore.

Therapy Can Help You Respond, Not Just React

I don’t believe in “fixing” you. I believe in meeting you with tools and language that bring you back to center—even when your inner critic is loud.

A beautiful post from Radium Psychology recently put it this way:

“You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not the problem. What’s really happening is that you're carrying unseen beliefs, protective habits, and internal parts that are doing their best to keep you safe—even when it doesn’t seem helpful.”

That insight captures what many of my clients feel but haven’t been able to name.

These parts aren’t trying to ruin your life. They’re trying to protect you. But when their strategies become outdated, you end up stuck, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

Therapy helps you get to know those parts without judgment.

Ready to Quiet the Inner Critic?

If you’re exhausted by the mental spiral, if you’ve done all the right things and still feel not enough, therapy might be the next step.

I love helping thoughtful, high-functioning women make sense of their emotional patterns and reconnect with a version of themselves that feels steady, present, and real.

You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation. Let’s see what changes when compassion leads the way.