What Not To Say To Your Therapist
Medically Reviewed By Debra Halseth, LCSWIt’s normal to be nervous before your first therapy session. Some things shouldn't be said in front of or to a therapist. Don't feel a need to be concerned about sharing too much about yourself with a counselor. It is about learning how things can get in the way of making the most progress on goals through sessions. The following information will help teach things that can be done to make sure that counseling is effective.
If you are wondering how to can find a good counselor, it is important that one starts by looking at themself and expectations. While a counselor one works with is important, an individual plays a major role in counseling sessions as well. As one approaches counseling, there are some things one should know such as ways of preparing to get the most out of sessions. For example, you may want to avoid mentioning the following things so that you can maximize the benefits counseling brings.
Things To Avoid When Talking With Your Counselor
Lies Or Half-Truths
Talking about personal matters can be difficult to do even when talking to someone that you know well. That can make it feel harder when talking to a complete stranger. If your therapist is starting to touch on something that’s difficult for you, you may want to back off on talking about it. It could be that it’s painful to think about or that you truly feel you don’t know the deeper answers that they’re looking for. But if you only allow them in on half of the information, your progress will be hindered.
Don’t Share Only Facts
Asking For A Prescription
Thinking They Can Cure You
Every Detail Of The Day
Skipping Assignments
Conclusion - Finding A Counselor For Therapy
If you’re still looking for a therapist and wondering how to find a good one and get the most out of your sessions, there are several options for you to consider. It’s helpful to know what you’re looking for in a therapist before you get started. It’s important for you to feel comfortable with your therapist so you’ll be able to open up during your sessions. It's also important to know what to say or not say to your therapist.
If you have health insurance, you can check with the company to see if they have counselors that are covered by your plan. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations if they’ve attended therapy before. You can also search online for a counselor either in your local area or for an online counselor like those at BetterHelp. You may access online therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
Don’t be afraid to get your questions answered prior to your first session. Remember, your comfort level is important as you move forward with therapy sessions. While it’s normal for it to take a few sessions to get comfortable with your counselor, if you feel that you’re not seeing the results you were looking for, don’t be afraid to say so to the counselor. They can talk through the issues with you and you can always find a new therapist if you need it.
The most important thing that needs remembering is that help is available and is within reach online.
Commonly Asked Questions On Therapy Found Below:
Do you still have questions about counseling relationship topics? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about what you should never tell your therapist.
What you should never tell your therapist during therapy?
You should never tell your therapist something harmful to them, such as calling them names or yelling at them. You should also not make sexual or romantic advances or threaten your therapist. These topics can make your therapist incredibly uncomfortable and are not conducive to your therapeutic relationship. However, you can tell your therapist many other things.
If you simply feel disconnected and want to open up, it’s okay to do so. Opening up about difficult topics doesn’t fall under what you should never tell your therapist. Therapists are mandatory reporters when it comes to child abuse, suicidality, or threats to hurt yourself or others. However, outside of that, you can feel comfortable sharing pretty much anything. Your therapist cannot report that you have committed a crime or tell your secrets.
Telling the whole truth about your situation can lead to positive changes in your life and will help you focus on your well-being. If you feel shame about being honest due to an experience with your last therapist, know that not every therapist is the same, and your personal experiences may be taken better with the next one, even if you’re brutally honest.
Is it okay to not tell your therapist everything?
A therapist’s job is to help you with whatever you want help with during your therapy sessions. If you want to talk about your mental health, you can. If you want to discuss a diagnosis, you can. If you have concerns or are feeling bad about something your therapist said, you can speak up. The conversation is often up to you.
However, there sometimes comes a point in therapy where you feel that the conversation is going in a direction you don’t want to go in. As a licensed therapist, your counselor has likely heard many things, and they may be trying to challenge you or give you unsolicited advice to help. However, a good therapist will understand when you do not want to continue talking about the point at hand.
If you have difficulty saying no or changing the subject, practice at home. You can practice by saying “no” in the mirror or using a friend.
Your emotions are important, and a therapist’s office should be a safe space for you to set limits. If you have personal concerns about the way your therapist is handling this, let them know that you’d prefer not to bring up the subject again.
Can you tell a therapist too much?
A licensed clinical social worker or licensed therapist has been trained to keep the information of their clients secret and confidential. For example, they can’t tell other people what your diagnosis is without your consent. If you are expressing emotions during therapy about a relationship in your life, they can’t tell that person in your relationship what you said.
A good therapist should also not share your information with other clients, and they should not share the information of other clients with you. Your emotions should always be confidential, and you should not have reason to think they won’t be with any therapists.
However, if you share emotions with your therapist related to a plan to kill or hurt yourself or someone else, a good therapist will know to report it. If you are a minor, clients’ rights may be a little bit different depending on where you live. Some therapists are able to speak to a minor’s family about what they share in their session about their thoughts and emotions. A good therapist should ask the minor first before sharing sensitive information with their family.
Therapists and licensed clinical social worker practitioners are trained to provide therapy in a confidential environment. Ask to see your therapist’s confidentiality agreement and HIPAA contract before starting therapy. Ask about your rights if you are a minor in therapy. Most therapists will have these documents on hand to show you. Therapists that do not prioritize confidentiality should be avoided.
