What should you not tell a therapist?

Here are 13 things not to say to a therapist: Telling Lies & Half-Truths. ... Omitting Important Details. ... Testing Your Therapist. ... Don't Keep Apologizing for Feelings or Things You Express in Therapy. ... I Didn't Do My Homework. ... Detailing Every Minute Detail of Your Day. ... Don't Just State the Facts. ... Don't Ask Them What You Should Do. More items... •

choosingtherapy.com - What Not to Say to Your Therapist - Choosing Therapy

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4. Don’t Keep Apologizing for Feelings or Things You Express in Therapy

Out of habit, you may feel the need to apologize for your feelings or for honestly sharing them. As long as you are not being rude or directly insulting your therapist, your session is a safe place to be as honest and candid as you want. There are plenty of places and situations where voicing your honest opinion or expressing your emotions is unsafe or frowned upon–therapy should not be one of them.

5. I Didn’t Do My Homework

Listen–you are human, and sometimes you forget to do the homework that was recommended to you during the previous session. Therapists are teachers, in the traditional sense in that there will always be homework or “grades” given at the end of your session. Homework, in the realm of therapy, is a way to stay accountable and reflect on your treatment in between sessions. Typically, the homework does not take long, and is more so an opportunity to practice skills that were modeled during therapy.

6. Detailing Every Minute Detail of Your Day

A good rule of thumb to remember is: if you feel that something is important or relevant, you should share it with your therapist. Most sessions are between 45-60 minutes long, and getting caught up in every minute detail of your day can leave little room to talk about important stressors or bothers. Using your therapist’s time wisely will help make sure your sessions are the most effective and productive they can be.

7. Don’t Just State the Facts

As cliché as it may sound, a big part of therapy is helping you process your thoughts and feelings about what you are sharing. Stating just the facts does not necessarily tell your therapist how you are feeling about a particular situation. Save time and energy by reflecting on how you feel about what you are sharing. Together, you and your therapist can uncover any hidden emotions that may not be as prominent.

8. Don’t Ask Them What You Should Do

Therapy is a tool designed to empower and help you manage your thoughts and feelings, so that you can gain insight and develop effective problem solving skills. Therapists are taught not to provide advice to their clients, to ensure that they are not being held responsible for any undesirable outcomes. Additionally, relying solely on your therapist’s advice or recommendations increases your risk of dependence on them, and does not encourage autonomy of thought.

9. “You Know What I Mean?”

Making the assumption that your therapist knows “what you mean”, or what you’re trying to say, has the potential of leading to miscommunication and misunderstanding. Oftentimes, when you make a comment such as this, your therapist will most likely encourage you to explain a bit more. Even if your therapist has a pretty good idea of what you are trying to say, they will do their best to keep their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions out of the session. It is in your best interest that they encourage you to explain.

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10. “You Don’t Care About Me”

Repeatedly stating things like “you don’t care about me” or “it’s your job to care” puts your therapist in an unfair position. The role of a therapist is to keep you safe, and guide you along your journey of growth and development. One of the beautiful parts of therapy is that your therapist genuinely cares about you, and this is long before they receive any payment. Sometimes, what you think you want to hear may not actually be what you need to hear. Your therapist’s job is to challenge you in a way that encourages exploration of other perspectives, and expand your thinking and self-reflection.

11. Ask Them to Diagnose Your Friends or Family Members

Therapy is about you, and only you. Sure, there will be times when you want to share some additional information about a friend or family member to give your therapist a better picture of them. However, it is not appropriate to ask your therapist to diagnose your friends or family members. You will likely receive a response reminding you of their role in your treatment: to support and help you with your goals. Additionally, your therapist will usually not work with your friends or family members, as it could pose the potential of damaging any trust or rapport that has been established between you.

12. “You’re _, So of Course You Also Think ___”

Assuming your therapist’s belief system, childhood upbringing, or any other personal details can lead to personal biased opinions and misrepresentations. Whether your therapist looks like you or not, it is best to assume that your therapist holds no prior opinions of past experiences. This includes any beliefs around political parties, religion, sexual orientation, cultural stereotypes, socioeconomic status, etc. It is best to not put your therapist directly in the spotlight, unless you feel that they are not giving you their unbiased opinion or support.

13. Assuming Therapy Won’t Work

It is common for someone to be fearful that therapy won’t work for them–whether they have tried it in the past or not. Continually responding to your therapist’s feedback or their suggestions–without giving them an honest try–will only prevent progress from being made. Your therapist wants to see you improve and put in genuine effort, even if you may not perceive something as helpful. You do have the right to change or refuse certain exercises in therapy. However, before you do so, consider what is holding you back from trying something in the first place.

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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. Asking about the details of other clients, even if it is someone you know, is against the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.1 Boundaries are important when it comes to a therapeutic relationship. Like their clients’ safety, your therapist has the right to maintain their own safety. If you are threatening your therapist, or responding violently–such as slamming a door, banging on a table, or yelling– your therapist has a right to refer you to a higher level of care or terminate the therapeutic service. The same applies to implying or suggesting any romantic or sexual activities. This is a major violation of boundaries and could result in your therapist losing the right to practice as a licensed professional in the future.2

How to Find a Therapist

Understanding how to find a therapist can show you some important things to look for when determining which therapist is right for you. Using an online directory is one way to connect with a therapist near you. If you do not feel comfortable with your therapist after the first couple of sessions, it may be worth having a conversation with them or start asking for other referrals. Consultation calls are also a nice way to briefly meet with a therapist before scheduling an intake appointment or becoming a client.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what not to say to a therapist can help you get the most out of treatment. This will keep you from feeling that your therapist is “closed off”, and also prevent you from feeling embarrassed for asking something inappropriate or for crossing a boundary.

choosingtherapy.com - What Not to Say to Your Therapist - Choosing Therapy