How to get the most out of therapy…

Are you getting the most out of therapy? Sometimes, people question the value of therapy and wonder if it is worth the expense.

 Some things to consider:

Are you coming prepared to talk? It is important that you think about sessions in advance and consider whether there are specific topics you want to address. Creating an agenda can be really useful!

Are you obsessing over being polite? You can ask questions of and give feedback to your therapist. Believe or not, we really value the input and the willingness to engage!

Are you keeping things to yourself? Are there things you want to tell me but you are holding back? Maybe you fear my judgment or that what you have to say will anger me. Please understand that I am here for you! So feel safe but be sure to share as much as you can!

Are you letting your emotions show? Often clients apologize for crying during sessions. Tears are an excellent indicator of how hard you are digging and how much stress a certain topic causes you. So don’t hold back. It is important for me, as your therapist, to see how you are feeling.

Are you focusing only on symptom relief? Often, the causes of feelings are just as important as the feelings themselves. So don’t be surprised or alarmed if I dig into places that don’t necessarily make sense to you. It’s my way of trying to understand the root of your issues.

Have you set boundaries around therapy? It’s natural to want to discuss your therapy with others but try to remember that the feedback they give may not be helpful.

Keep a journal! Writing about your feelings is incredibly helpful and I encourage you to do this as much as possible.