How’s it going? Fine…

A few of your comments on previous articles mentioned that some of us feel looking back, we wish we would have opened up more with a therapist.

What are your worries about opening up? Some people may worry about:

• Feeling judged
• Feeling embarrassed
• Being told that something is wrong with them
• Privacy
• Being let down
• Getting hurt
• Not being able to deal with raw emotions
• Having a panic attack

Of course these are all valid  concerns. Some things that may help is that a therapist’s job is to listen to people’s thoughts and about intimate details of their lives. This means that probably what you are telling them is a version of something they have heard before or at least something they have training in.

A therapist’s role includes:

• Making you feel safe and comfortable
• Listening without judgment
• Helping you reach the goals of your therapy
• Keeping what you tell them private
• Helping you gage if you need to take a break if your emotions are too strong

If you are getting therapy and you feel like you are not there yet and cannot open up enough with them, be honest. Let them know that you are having a hard time opening up and sharing. This is something they can help you work on! Also if it’s not a right fit, its ok to tell them that too.

Have you had trouble opening up to a therapist? Are there ways you overcame this?