Therapy can feel like a mysterious process at times.
Youve probably wondered what to talk about in therapy at least once.
What is everyoneelsetalking about in their sessions, anyway?
Renée Mathews
We all have high and low periods, so your sessions will likely reflect that.
Some discussions can feel really useful while others may be just a check-in.
First, reflect on why youre having a mental block in therapy.
Its okay to chit-chat a bit.
Its okay to bring up something that isnt critical or to sit quietly in a therapists company.
Theres a lot of different ways of connecting with people, Dr. Pirutinsky says.
People minimize their own suffering and their own pain, Dr. Johnson tells SELF.
What patients think is most important is what I think is most important, Dr. Johnson says.
Be honest with your therapist about whats on your mind.
Let your therapist know how youre feeling, and theyll usually take it from there.
Sometimes there are deeper meanings [to silence], and sometimes there arent, Dr. Pirutinsky says.
There are also different therapeutic styles, so its possible that you may do better with a different approach.
Im not the right therapist for everyone, Dr. Pirutinsky says.
He recalls one client who wasnt engaged during their sessions.
Dr. Johnson agrees that its really useful for her to know when someone is struggling with their sessions.
I need to ask more digging questions rather than very broad surface-level questions, she says.
Oftentimes people begin therapy when they have a lot going on.
A quiet session can also be a chance to create or reevaluate goals, both experts say.
Sometimes silence indicates that youve accomplished some things.
That can be a scary thing for someone, especially if youve gotten a lot out of therapy.
If you dont feel ready to give up therapy completely, then you may just go less often.
Experiment with ways to stimulate conversation in therapy.
One way to do that is by preparing for your meeting.
(you’re free to do this informally on your notes app.)
For example, exploring why you cant stop listening to a certain song can be insightful.
Remember that progress isnt immediate.
Sometimes it can feel like a session was really helpful, and we feel really good about those sessions.
Its normal for some sessions to not seem super productive, Dr. Johnson says.
Therapy is a process.
See more from ourGuide to Caring for Your Mental Health here.
