As promised, here is the second installment of questions you wish you could ask you therapist, but may be afraid to. Let’s jump right in:
1. Do you look me up on social media?
Consensus: No. Most of the time, the therapist wants to get to know you when you come in for the first time. Social Media might give us a different impression and we don’t want to be swayed or biased. Once therapy has started, if there is something you want to share with us from your social media, that would be acceptable.
2. Do we lay on the couch in session?
Consensus: That is up to you! Most clients do not, but if you want to and are more comfortable that way, then by all means, go ahead!
3. What are you writing during our sessions?
Consensus: Not all therapists write things down, but some of us do. In the beginning, we are usually writing things down that we need to remember for our notes. Sometimes we might be writing down things we want to remember to ask or tell you.
4. Does it hurt your feelings when we stop coming to therapy without talking to you first?
Consensus: It doesn’t hurt our feelings as much as make us concerned for you. I (Sydney) can usually tell when someone is starting to check out of the therapy process, so I am rarely blindsided by it. We also know when we are asking you to do really hard work that you might not want to do. The concern is just that you are going to be ok and stay safe. If we know you do not want to come back, we can at least give you some resources and referrals. When you ghost, that is much harder. It helps us if we know the reason. If it is something related to us, when we know, we can make adjustments or we can refer you to someone who may be a better fit for you.
5. Have you ever been through this (counseling) before?
Consensus: YES! Most counselors have been through counseling before. Some graduate schools even require it before you graduate. It is very helpful to know what it feels like to be on the “other side” of things before you begin counseling.
We hope that these answers have been helpful. And as always, if you have any questions for your counselor, please feel free to ask. If you are anyone you know need professional counseling, please contact Amy Wine Counseling Center today. You can call us at 832-421-8714, or email us here.