The question of “what can I talk about in therapy” is common in counselling—ask the internet—so maybe it has crossed your mind, too. ⠀
What can I talk about in therapy?
The counselling space is a nonjudgmental place where you are free to talk about literally anything. The idea in therapy is that you can talk about and explore uncharted aspects of your experience, discuss topics you haven’t (or have) had before, and test-drive ideas, such as making personal changes and developing your relationship with yourself or your loved ones. ⠀
No topics are off-limits for the vast majority of therapists. If you are gravitating away from your initial goal session after session, your counsellor will gently guide you back on track or ask if the counselling goal needs to be adjusted.
Limits of Confidentiality
Sometimes what you talk about in counselling might require the involvement of other people. For example, if there is imminent harm to yourself (i.e., suicide), others (i.e., homicide), or if a child is at risk of harm. In these cases, therapists are legally required to take appropriate steps to ensure safety.
For adults, if you have granted permission to any third parties to be informed of your well-being, they will receive updates as necessary. Minors will often have a different confidentiality arrangement. Parent(s) or guardian(s) might be more or less involved depending on what comes up in session.
What should I talk about with my counsellor?
Some people start counselling for a specific reason, or because the therapist specializes in a certain topic. You can talk to a therapist about nearly anything, so long as it relates to your mental well-being, personal goals, or things you wonder about in your life.
Some topics you could talk about with your counsellor include:
- anxiety, worry, and nervousness
- depression and low mood
- mood fluctuations
- stress management
- relationship issues
- friendship issues
- work stress and burnout
- couples counselling and relationship problems
- goal setting and motivation
- self-esteem and confidence
- grief and loss, including pet loss
You can talk about past experiences in your life, or process current life changes. Just about every topic is welcome in therapy.
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