I often encourage clients to “check in with yourself” in regards to making decisions or reconnecting with their intuition. But what exactly does this phrase mean?
I’m Michelle F. Moseley, LCMHC, a licensed mental health counselor in North Carolina who works with many people who struggle to recognize their needs and communicate them with others.
I was recently featured in an article at UpJourney where several mental health therapists provided insight on what it means to check in with yourself. Part of my answer included the following:
Emotions can give us information about a situation or option we may not consciously recognize. Emotions can also elicit a reaction from both ourselves and others.
Check in with yourself by asking, “Which of the basic four—mad, sad, glad, or scared – best describes what I’m feeling right now?”
Check out the full article to read more of my thoughts, and those of other mental health professionals about ways to check in with yourself.
**Note: As of May 2026, the original article has been changed and the current version only includes a small snippet of the full answer I originally shared.
Michelle F. Moseley (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC (#12491). She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma, and with those who have body image concerns, finding there is frequent overlap in these areas. She also frequently supports late-identified neurodivergent individuals as they navigate the grief and relief of a new understanding of self. You can learn more about Michelle by visiting her website at MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle
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