Therapy is a tool that more and more people use every day. If you’re new to therapy, you might be unsure how to approach this time with a new person. What are a few things you should avoid saying to the therapist?
In a therapy session, don’t:
- Apologize for emotions
- Lie
- Speak just facts
- Say it won’t work
- Regret talking about yourself
- Act like you know everything
- Feel sorry for talking
Your therapist won’t appreciate hearing these, and they won’t help you have a productive session at the end of the day.
Read on to learn about things you should never say to your therapist. Sometimes, it’s best to set boundaries before your first session to allow everything to go as smoothly as possible. Let’s get started.
Article Topics
Is It Safe to Tell Your Therapist Everything?
With the oppotunity nowadays to chat with a therapist online from the comfort of your own home… It can become easier to have a more comfortable and easy session. Opening up more to your therapist. In theory, you can feel safe telling your therapist everything. It is their job to take that information and utilize it to help you grow in your life. Therapists should keep your words to themselves.
Unfortunately, some therapists don’t abide by these rules and tell friends or family about their patients. Ensure you feel comfortable with your therapist before revealing the deepest parts of yourself – you never know. Reviews online can help you select an ideal therapist candidate.
Fortunately today, we have many options to choose from. If you are in you are in your teen years learning to cope with different emotions and challenges, it is very recommended to see a therapist and chose the therapy that feels right for you.
What Should You Not Tell Your Therapist?
Mindset is the most critical item to consider when deciding what not to tell your therapist. Keep things out of the conversation that will harm your time together.
Let’s talk about seven things you shouldn’t say to your therapist. With practice, you will soon be able to relax in these sessions and start the healing process.
7 Things You Should Not Say To Your Therapist
There are many things you should try to avoid telling your therapist if possible. Several stand out as the most prominent.
With a therapist, don’t:
- Apologize for emotions
- Lie
- Speak just facts
- Say it won’t work
- Regret talking about yourself
- Act like you know everything
- Feel sorry for talking
These will not help your session.
Let’s dive further into each of these to help make your experience as ideal as possible. You’re both there for a reason – help your therapist as much as they help you.
1. Don’t Apologize for Emotions
Therapy is an emotional time, and it’s completely normal to experience a roller coaster of emotions every session. Staying stagnant isn’t ideal, so don’t apologize for what you feel.
A few normal feelings in therapy include:
- Anger
- Sadness
- Joy
These might be subtle, or they could be extreme.
Feel what you want to feel, and your therapist will work with you to move forward. The most progressive sessions are the ones with emotional breakthroughs.
2. Don’t Lie
It doesn’t help anyone to lie. You’re paying for therapy, so why would you extend the process by telling falsehoods or half-truths? There’s not much point in fabricating your life and the situations you have been in over the years.
If you’re not comfortable telling the truth, start with a few details and expand. Work at a pace you feel safe with until a rhythm establishes itself.
3. Don’t Speak Just Facts
Facts can be helpful, and tell the therapist about you – where you grew up, who you’re dating, and how many people you have in your family. However, there is a point where reciting only facts can delay the growth process in therapy. Don’t just speak facts! Reveal emotions and thoughts as well.
If you don’t feel comfortable steering away from facts, try adding some emotions to the ones you’re saying. With enough time, you will be able to break free from this fact-based form of therapy.
4. Don’t Say It Won’t Work
There’s no worse way to start therapy than informing your therapist that you don’t think it will work. Don’t tell them you have little faith. Let the process work, and take it from there.
A positive outlook can mean everything in therapy. Try heading in with a positive attitude. Your therapist will appreciate this effort, as they will be able to work with you simpler. Don’t tell them it won’t work, because it very much might.
5. Don’t Regret Talking About Yourself
It’s too easy to feel bad for talking. Many in therapy have never had the chance to be in a room where the focus is on them. If this applies to you, don’t apologize to your therapist for talking about yourself. Again, they are there to listen to you.
Before therapy sessions, cheer yourself up in a mirror or taking on a power stance. A little bit of confidence can be helpful when trying to fight the urge to apologize about talking about yourself.
6. Don’t Act Like You Know Everything
Therapy is a growing opportunity that you are paying for in your life. Don’t interrupt your therapist or inform them about items you already think you know. You’re in therapy for a reason. Take the time to slow down and let them perform their job.
Even if you feel like you know everything, you don’t. Your therapist has a unique perspective you don’t understand. Don’t tell them factoids – instead, listen and learn as much as you can.
7. Don’t Feel Sorry for Talking
Most of all, don’t feel sorry for talking. You’re there to discuss, and your therapist doesn’t want to hear apologies for the words you use. It’s their job to listen to what you have to say. Ignore that little voice and keep the apology to yourself. You deserve this time to be heard.
Try to talk for as long as possible. If you feel sorry, ask your therapist if you can work on it together. You’ve got this.
Final Thoughts
If you accidentally say one of these to your therapist, don’t worry about it! These sessions take time to adjust to in reality. The more comfortable you become, the easier it will be and the benefits of talking to a therapist are worth it.
We hope this information was helpful! There are many therapy benefits, and everyone should give it a shot. You can do it!
