How to Get The Most Out of Therapy

How to Get the Most Out of Therapy

Be Honest

Therapy is a commitment of your time, your finances, and your emotional capacity. So why not attempt to make the most out of the process? As a counselor, I can only work with what my clients tell me and are honest about with me. So to get the most out of the counseling process, it’s important you’re honest with both yourself and your therapist. 

Have Realistic Expectations

Recognize that the first few sessions of therapy are a time your counselor is attempting to build rapport with you. During your first session, your clinician will likely be gathering background information about you and why you have decided to start therapy at this particular time in your life. It’s an opportunity for you and your therapist to get to know each other and to establish trust in your clinical relationship. Once your clinical relationship is established and you’re ready to start applying what you discuss in session outside of sessions, this is when the real healing and growth will begin. 

Define Progress Alongside Your Counselor

One area many clients do themself a disservice in is incorrectly defining progress for their counseling process. I’ll have a client making tremendous personal progress, but those around them are still creating chaos in their own lives or continuing to live in unhealthy relational patterns with my client. They’ll come to session and say “I’m not making any progress.” This provides the opportunity to have conversations regarding what progress means and what is within my client’s control and what is outside of their control. Clinical progress does not mean everything in your life will suddenly get easier, but it should mean you’ll be able to cope with life’s difficulties in healthier ways than before you started counseling. 

Expect to Get Uncomfortable In Order to Grow

You never grow inside your comfort zone. I always remind my clients that they may not leave each counseling session feeling better than when they came in. Sometimes, you talk about difficult topics or uncover difficult memories you haven’t thought about in years. Sometimes feeling emotionally drained after a session means you’re doing the work you need to in order to heal and grow. Healing is possible and it is worth it, but it takes the sacrifice of comfortability at times. You can do hard things and you’re worth achieving a greater level of wellness. 

Maryann Dernlan is the Owner and Founder of Replenish and Renew Counseling LLC that provides telehealth mental health counseling services across the state of Florida. She is a wife, mom, dance teacher, football fan, and is grateful to help others find healing through counseling.