Are You Keeping Secrets From Your Therapist?
You know that feeling when you come across something that:
1.) you assume no one else experiences, and
2.) floors you because you realize someone has had the same experience and wrote about it?
It’s a great feeling. I recently came across this article that made me realize I’ve done this while seeing my own therapist, and a few of my own clients have expressed to me has happened to them.
We all have secrets. Some are huge. But sometimes they’re small. Like, when we realize we’re uncomfortable or ashamed in a situation where others seem comfortable, and we don’t want to let on. Sometimes the seemingly insignificant things we realize about ourselves can be the hardest to bring up with another person.
The aforementioned article is written by Lori Gottlieb, author of bestseller Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. In the article, Gottlieb writes:
“… But perhaps the most common reason for hiding [difficult] information is this: Once you bring something up, you might have to deal with it-not just the situation itself, but the uncomfortable feelings that accompany it.”
We all have feelings that we dislike, and try to avoid at all costs. Even in therapy. But therapy (in theory) should be a safe place to dip your toe into the emotional pool with someone who has been trained to sit in discomfort with others while being empathic and without passing judgment. Oftentimes, our emotions aren’t as scary as we thought, and quite often, therapists might help you figure out how to sit with your emotions on your own without letting them overtake you. We all need a non-judgmental witness to our pain. And this is usually the first step in healing.
Roubicek & Thacker Counseling is Fresno’s premier provider of individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.