2 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Counseling Sessions With Your Therapist

If you have just started seeking counseling to help you gain a better perspective on your life, you may feel a little lost and wonder if there is anything you can do to help your progress. If so, use the following tips to help you get the most out of your counseling sessions with your therapist.

1.  Write Down Important Points You Want to Discuss

In the days between your therapy appointments, you may have issues or think of problems you wish to discuss with your therapist during your next appointment. However, once you get to your appointment, you may forget to bring it up.

If you find that you are constantly forgetting issues you want to talk about, keep a small notebook with you, and write down anything that comes to mind. Then, at your next session, you can start the appointment by bringing out your list and seeing what feels like it is the most pertinent.

However, even if you have a long list, stay open to any new direction in which the therapist may lead your session. Especially when they get to know you better, they may have a different perspective that could help you resolve some of the issues you have written down, along with any problems you may not have considered.

2.  Complete Any Suggested At-home Exercises

Another way you can have productive therapy sessions and see progress is to complete any suggested at-home exercises your therapist may suggest. Typically, these exercises are to help you apply what you learn with your therapist to your life, helping you to change behaviors or thought patterns that may be causing recurring issues.

For example, if your therapist asks you to make a journal entry every time you feel angry or are in a situation that upsets you, make sure you complete the assignment as soon as possible after the incident. Describe the situation, people involved, and how it made you feel during and after.

Then, take your journal with you so you can share the experience with your therapist and give them an overall view of your mindset during these situations. They can then give you suggestions on how to deal with these issues should they come up again.

Along with showing up to every appointment, using the tips above while going through your counseling sessions can help you work through the issues that led you to seek therapy. For more advice on things you can do to complement your sessions, speak to therapists like Donald McEachran, PHD.