Clinical psychologists are highly trained and educated people. But that doesn't matter if you don't know what they're talking about. A therapist shouldn't speak in psychobabble, or psychology jargon. Instead, therapists should ensure that what they're saying to you is crystal clear, without making you feel dumb.
In the therapy environment, counsellors will often see a correlation between lack of tears and trauma, which can be an indication that the client has dissociated from their trauma as a means of surviving it. For others who have not cried in some time, and crying in a session would not feel accessible or 'natural.
“It totally makes sense for a person to be asking questions of someone with whom they're going to be sharing their intimate self.” The short answer to the question is: Yes. If you have a question, you should ask. Your questions are valid and likely relevant to the therapeutic process.
It's normal to wonder about your therapist — you're sharing personal information and experiences with them, so it makes sense to want to know more about their life and experiences. It's okay to ask your therapist about their life.
She thinks of you between sessions
The time between therapy sessions is often marked by thoughtful reflection and feelings about the work, for both you and your therapist.
In order to identify the source of the ambivalence, it's important to continue to provide reflections and affirmations to the silent client in balance with the acceptance of reflective silence. An additional strategy to build upon the reflection and affirmations you are providing is to ask open-ended questions.
Crying is a common and natural response to emotional pain or distress. While it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing to cry in front of others, it's important to know that crying in therapy is not only okay, but can actually be a sign of progress and healing.
When a client begins to cry during a session, therapists respond in a respectful and understanding manner. While it is natural to feel uncomfortable when someone is crying in your presence, the therapist must remain composed and focused on providing support for their client.
Hands. Your client's hands can give you clues about how they're reacting to what comes up in the session. Trembling fingers can indicate anxiety or fear. Fists that clench or clutch the edges of clothing or furniture can suggest anger.
Other things to avoid during a therapy session include: asking about other confidential conversations with other clients; showcasing violent emotions; or implying any romantic or sexual interest in your therapist. The number one job of a therapist is to keep you safe and protect their clients' privacy.
Back to Fictional Reader's question about why it may be difficult to look a therapist in the eyes. Some possible root causes range from guilt, shame, anxiety, low self-esteem, shyness, past abuse, depression or autistic spectrum disorders to varying cultural norms and cognitive overload.
If you've been in therapy for a period of time and feel like it's going well, you may want support from your therapist in the form of a hug. After all, the process of therapy can be very intimate and emotional.
Yes, just like psychiatrists, therapists are trained to diagnose mental health disorders. A therapist will use talk therapy to determine a mental health problem and conduct psychological tests to make a diagnosis. A therapist can also develop a treatment plan for you based on your diagnosis.
But Therapists Don't Tell You What To Do
They will guide you to solutions they believe are best, but won't directly suggest things. Therapist Bethany Raab had a message for potential clients who worry about this issue. “I cannot make you do anything, nor do I want to do so,” she said.
While therapists do get frustrated with clients from time to time, it's not typically enough to call off therapy. The situation is often resolvable.
One is where the therapy has been long-term and growthful and the therapist feels sadness, even grief, at the ending because the therapist has developed affection, even love toward the client. In some ways, psychotherapy is one of the most intimate relationship a therapist can have.
Getting a client to open up in therapy starts with the foundation of trust that is built between them and yourself. As a therapist, you are responsible for creating a safe environment that the client feels comfortable in, leading to deeper conversations and the revelation of important details.
Silence in counselling allows the client to speak about their issues without interruption (sometimes a new experience for them). Silence also enables the client space to process their thoughts and feelings without distraction.
The way therapists feel about their clients—the way your therapist feels about you—is deep, powerful, and unique. Being seen and known in the way only a therapist can see and know someone is one of the special gifts of therapy. That human connection is essential to the process.
A therapist uses silence intentionally as a tool. Wise use of silence in therapy can increase your chances of having profound insights and powerful emotional experiences. By quietly and attentively listening to you, a good therapist helps you go deeper than you do in everyday conversation.
For many reasons, a therapist-patient relationship and a friendship are mutually exclusive. This doesn't mean you can't build a genuine bond with your therapist, though. In fact, taking friendship off the table is essential for that to happen.
There aren't official guidelines about this for therapists.
You might be wondering if your former therapist would even be allowed to be your friend, given how ethically rigorous the mental health field is. The answer is technically yes, but it's generally inadvisable.
The distance between the therapist and the patient should ideally be a comfortable one for engaging in conversation—not too close nor too far. I suggest around six feet. The therapist should avoid an arrangement wherein he is sitting completely across the room from the patient at a distance of 10 or 12 feet.