Things Your Therapist Won’t Tell You…But I will.

Therapists have traditionally been “blank slates”, but as mental health modernizes I believe they should also be seen as humans too. That’s why I’m sharing some things your therapist might not tell you…but I will! We aren’t perfect people who have all the answers but we are professionals that are trained to help clients in seasons they need it most.

We think about you outside of sessions.

If you tell me about something important coming up, like a hard conversation with your boss or a wedding anniversary, I'm probably thinking of you on that day.

Also, I love hearing about clients' favorite movies, music, or restaurants because I think of them when they are brought up IRL.

Even if you no longer see me as a client, I think about how you’re doing because I want the absolute best for your life.

Sometimes we have to use the bathroom.

I know you think it so I’m telling you.

Therapists sit for long periods of time. And let’s face it, we consume a lot of caffeine and water during the day.

We are trained to not use body language that could cause distractions, like tapping our leg or looking at the clock. We can multitask very well.

...but yes, I have to pee.

We might have a second source of income.

Everyone has a different circumstance, but truth is, we don’t always make enough to cover costs.

Your therapist might do contract work, be a barista at a coffee shop, or run a business on Etsy.

I’m NOT saying this to make clients feel bad or pressure them to book more sessions, I just want people to know that most therapists do this work because they love it, not because it makes them rich.

We know we are not for everyone.

All therapists go through extensive training to learn the skills needed to help clients.

From there, we each develop our own therapy style, from how we show up in the room to the approaches we use.

Because people are different, therapists are too. We know we won't be the right fit for every person who walks in our door.

It’s okay to see another provider. Your care is the important thing.

We have a life outside of therapy.

Just like you, we enjoy things outside of work. Going to the gym, hitting up happy hours, attending concerts, grabbing coffee, etc.

This is why it’s so important for us to disclose what happens if we see you in public. It’s quite possible we could be at the same place at the same time.

Seeing your therapist out and about can feel awkward, but know I leave my therapist hat at home and think nothing of it.

We wish we could also be your friend.

It might be because we relate to what you are going through or it could be that we enjoy doing the same hobbies. Sometimes that connection just “clicks”.

While we would NEVER act on that because it's (very) ethically wrong, there are clients we think would have been fun to know under different circumstances.

You're just too cool not to want to be friends with.

We know we have “off” sessions.

We are human. That means we make mistakes.

We may misunderstand something you said, not catch an emotional cue as to how you’re really doing, or accidentally bring up a subject that is touchy to you.

Know that if you have what feels like an “off” session, it’s okay to say that in your next one. In all honesty, we probably already know.

It might not be you. It might be me.

We genuinely get excited for you.

You might wonder if we actually feel proud of you or if it’s just for show, but it’s honestly so exciting to see you do hard things and thrive outside of the therapy room.

Whether that’s using a coping skill for anxiety or disrupting a toxic relationship pattern, new can be scary and hard.

Knowing you are getting something out of sessions is the best feeling.

We work for you outside of session.

Therapy may look like just 50 minutes of talking, but we spend

hours preparing and caring for our clients outside of session.

That can include supervision, continuing education, researching new approaches, creating personalized treatment plans, and writing notes from sessions.

Your 50 minutes matter, but so does everything that happens BTS to give you the best care possible.

We are not easily shocked.

“This might be too TMI.”

“It’s going to sound crazy.”

“I’m embarrassed by...”

We know and understand that certain things might feel uncomfortable to talk about, just know your therapist has heard it all.

From sex, drugs, alcohol, family drama, job environment, etc. it takes a lot to shock us.

It is my job to sit with you in the things you’re afraid to talk about.

We like when you cuss.

Okay, in all fairness, this might depend on the therapist. But at least for me and most therapists I know, we like when you cuss.

Cussing can actually be a sign that you feel safe enough to be yourself and express your emotions.

For many therapists, that's a cue that you're feeling more comfortable and vulnerable, which can help the therapeutic process.

So f*ck the bullsh*t and say the cuss word.

We learn from you too.

Your therapy session is 110% about you, so we work hard to keep the focus there. We only share about ourselves when we believe it genuinely benefits your care.

But the truth is, you shape us too.

We can be inspired by your resilience, challenged to see the world differently, or learn something new through your experiences.

Being invited into that process is something I never take for granted.

The Heart of Therapy

Therapy is about more than what happens in a 50-minute session. As a virtual therapist serving Waco, Central Texas, and clients throughout Texas, I provide personalized support through telehealth from wherever you are. Wherever you live in Texas, you deserve a therapist who sees you, supports you, and genuinely cares.

Call or text 254-300-1521 for a free consultation.