Why is it important to give your therapist feedback?
Tip on how to get the most out of your therapy sessions.
Imagine a space where you could feel safe asking for exactly what you need?
Well, that is what therapy sessions aim to be. On top of working through challenges and processing the past, present and future, they are also a safe place where you can experiment with different parts of yourself and ways of being.
Recognizing and voicing what we need is one of the most important things we can do as humans, and the acts of doing so take a lot of practice and intent.
In therapy sessions, you should be met with the non-judgmental lens of your therapist who can help you in these practices.
The best way to start is by offering feedback for what you need within the session and the larger therapeutic relationship. Therapists can only meet you where you are when you allow them into your world and thought processes. Unfortunately, we are not mind readers, although we often try to be : )
Here are some tips in offering your therapist feedback:
Take some reflection time to focus on what it is you are asking for:
What has been working in session? (Ex: when do you leave feeling your best?)
What doesn’t seem to be working? (Ex: have there been moments or techniques that feel off or hold you back?)
Have you seen or heard something that you would like to try in session?
Consider the goals that you set for therapy:
Have you felt you have made any progress on them? Remember, progress can be slow at first or take time, but it is good to bring up to your therapist if you have felt you have made no progress or have gone backward.
Formulate feedback into “I” statements:
For example: “I’ve felt the best when you allow me to arrive at conclusions on my own instead of offering them as suggestions” or “I would love to explore DBT techniques together so that I can better manage my reactions.”
Share them with your therapist and have a conversation:
Most therapists should be receptive to hearing your thoughts and feelings - that is what therapy is for, after all. Your therapist may not tell you everything you want to hear, but therapy should be a place where your needs are being met. You just have to ask for them!
