Going to therapy can put you in a very vulnerable position. You’re discussing a number of different feelings with a person you just met, and you’re expecting to get better by doing so.
Chances are you’ll have a hard time opening up and feel a tremendous amount of pressure to get the most out of your sessions.
So how do you know if you’re talking about the right things or contributing as best you can?
First of all, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with discussing their mental health issues and might even be worried about running out of things to say or to open up about.
Talking about your feelings and emotions is tough, and it most likely won’t come easy, especially at the beginning. However, here are 5 topics that can help you better navigate your sessions and get the most out of talk therapy.
There Is No Right or Wrong
When you start therapy, you might feel like you have to talk about deep and serious topics. However, there is no right or wrong topic to discuss in therapy.
Ultimately, you can talk about whatever you see fit. While it does help to talk about the specific disorder you are dealing with; such as anxiety and depression, others might not have something in particular to talk about.
It can be that they are just going through a transition in life and need someone to vent to and get advice from.
It helps to remember that nothing is off-limits. This is your time and your money you are putting into these sessions, so don’t hold back.
If you’re having difficulty starting the session, just talk about your day, week or month to explore where you might need help.
Take Notes
If you’re going through therapy weekly, it can be tough to remember what you have discussed with your therapist. Keeping and taking notes can help kickstart every session, so you and your therapist are on the same page.
You can either take notes while you are in session or wait till after and use it to reflect on what you discussed.
Talk About the Present
When you’re looking over how the week or month went, you might have been feeling sad, angry, or depressed. However, if those aren’t your emotions in session, they don’t have to be discussed right away.
The emotional support you need from therapy changes frequently. One week you might be seeking advice, and then next, you just want to be heard.
Therapy sessions are meant to be tailored to your specific needs. Your feelings in the present should encourage what you want to talk about.
Discuss Your Past
On the contrary, discussing the past can be a topic of interest during therapy. You might hear that much of what you’re feeling now, emotionally and mentally, can stem from past experiences or trauma.
While this is a stereotypical notion, the reality is that it’s true. There are underlying experiences that might have contributed to what you’re going through now.
Getting to the bottom of those past events and experiences can help guide you to healthy mental well-being.
Take a moment to step back from the present and choose to talk about the past to help you address the unresolved issues.
Is It Time to End Therapy?
Talk therapy isn’t meant to be a forever thing. If at one point you felt it easy to talk about your emotions and things you’re going through, and now you aren’t, then it might be time to stop.
The goal of therapy is to be able to live without it. However, before you quit, make sure you truly got what you needed from your time with the therapist and not just because you’re tired of going or because you are dissatisfied with your therapist.
Quitting right away doesn’t have to be your only option either. You can talk to your therapist about having more time between sessions and seeing how you adjust.
Get Help With Steps For Change
Our goal at Steps For Change is to help people suffering from mental health issues lead happy, fulfilling lives. We have a team of experts dedicated to helping others create change in their lives.
You or your loved one will be able to receive traditional counseling or specialized treatment by taking advantage of our custom treatment planning.
Our team approach to helping those who struggle to transform for the better is based on a team approach. We have seasoned clinicians who are passionate about helping others.
To learn more about therapy with Steps For Change, book a call today.
