It always helps to talk to someone about what you’re going through. Sometimes, having a totally objective person to talk to is even better. That is where a therapist comes into play. Many people find it a lot easier to “go deep” with a therapist who is essentially a stranger albeit a trained stranger. If you have never been to therapy before, then you might think it involves laying down on a sofa and talking about your secrets. There is an element of truth to that but there is a lot more to focus on with therapy.
These are some ways that you can get the most out of your therapy session:
Explore Why Therapy Is Hard for You
Your first few therapy sessions will be all about forging a bond of trust between you and your therapy. One of the first issues could be the very reason why therapy might be hard for you. It is possible that you’ve talked a lot with friends and feel like you might be rehashing old subjects. It could also be that you might be embarrassed about a topic that you want to bring up. Therapy isn’t about shame. It is about working through issues. Once you feel like the trust has been established, you’ll find yourself opening up a lot more.
Talk About Your Past
A lot of what has happened in your life informs who you are today. Talking about your past is a major part of therapy. What you might discover is that some of the specific memories that are triggered by therapy are things you have thought about in years. They have a significance that you can uncover with your therapist. There is no such thing as a random insignificant memory.
Talk Through the Small Stuff
One of the reasons that you might be in therapy is because of being “triggered” by certain events in your life. While those triggers can generate feelings of anxiety and stress, there is usually something else going on. That is what you want to get out with your therapy.
Consider the Worst-Case Scenarios
A lot of therapy has to do with providing coping mechanisms to help you make decisions in your life. Some of those decisions can be truly life altering. Before getting to that place, you might want to consider what the worst-case scenarios might look like. By breaking those down you’ll able to separate the fact from the “fiction” and arrive at a strong path to follow.
Journal In Between Sessions
The work of therapy isn’t confined to your actual therapy sessions. You will find yourself processing through what comes up in those sessions. One way to help that processing is to keep a journal about what you’re thinking and feeling. That journal can prove to be a helpful tool to set the subject for your next therapy session.
You’ll get the most out of therapy from what you put into that therapy.
