Do you know what to say to your therapist before you talk?

We might even know what you’re going to say before you say it.” You don’t need to watch your words around your therapist, but for your own benefit, try to stick to the truth. “A good therapist will help you out of the cliched patterns of thinking and speaking and lead you to a more nuanced truth,” Brittle added.

Do you have to convince your therapist to do the right thing?

You don’t have to convince them that you’re a stand-up person who always does the right thing. You hired your therapist to help you address some things about yourself and your relationships: When you’re in their office, let them do their job. “Try to see them as an employee to some extent,” Brittle said.

How can I tell if my therapist/counselor is not healing?

If a therapist/counselor, however, perpetuates the negative beliefs and ways of processing information, then you’re not healing. You could even get worse. Therefore, check out how the therapist/counselor reframes what you tell them.

Are therapists supposed to give advice?

Therapists aren’t supposed to give advice and I promise you I do my best to stay away from falling into the advice giving trap. But sometimes it’s just so tempting, isn’t it?

What do you not want in a therapist?

You don’t want a therapist who has had a perfect life, free of conflict or turmoil. You don’t want to be looking for guidance from someone who has never had to figure out the best way to handle a difficult personal situation.

What happens when a therapist asks you a clarifying question?

When you close up or get defensive in response to your therapist asking a clarifying question, they usually know something is off, said Kurt Smith, a therapist based in Rosedale, California, who specializes in counseling men. “Other similar reactions can be changing the subject, getting argumentative or even angry.