Inside a therapist’s office is where you may feel most comfortable with sharing your vulnerability and where you feel safest being who you are. A therapist can help you work out the troubles that you are having in your day to day life and help you develop strategies for overcoming those struggles.
However, for most people, that time only happens once a week or maybe even just once a month. What are you to do during the time when you are not in your therapist’s office? What should you do when you begin to feel down and frustrated, and your next therapy session isn’t for another two weeks? Luckily, there are a few ways to cope with the time between therapy sessions and make your life a little easier.
Journal During the Time Between Therapy Sessions
One of the best ways you can cope during the time between therapy sessions is to keep a journal of your thoughts, goals, and events that have made an impact on you. Set aside a few minutes at the end of each day to reflect and write about your day.
You could also spend some time looking back at past entries to reflect on how far you have come. This can be especially helpful when you have had a particularly rough day. It would serve as a reminder that you have been making progress.
You can also use your journal to make notes of positive experiences that you would like to share with your therapist. Or you may want to jot down questions to ask at your next session. Journaling is both practical and a great way to express your thoughts and emotions that you can later share with your therapist.
Work on Your Goals
If you are in the goal-setting part of your therapy journey, another way you can cope with the time between therapy sessions is to actively work on those goals. Therapy is work, and there are some things that your therapist will want you to do outside of the sessions.
Your therapist may ask you to take a few moments several times throughout your day to write down how you are feeling. Or, you might be tasked with taking walks when it’s nice outside, visiting places that might be outside of your comfort zone, or maybe reaching out to an old friend who makes you feel better when you are down.
Find goals that you can work on–and maybe even achieve–before your next therapy session. This will go a long way to help you cope with the time between therapy sessions.
Talk with a Trusted Friend or Family Member
You might think when you are in a slump that a therapist is the only person that you can talk to. While a therapist is a great professional resource, don’t be afraid to reach out to a trusted friend or family member to talk to about what might be bothering you in the moment or when you are having a setback between sessions.
Before reaching out to a friend or family member, make sure that they are comfortable with you talking to them about what you might otherwise discuss with a therapist. However, never be afraid to reach out to the people who love and know you best during times when you really need to talk to someone.
Therapy and your journey does not only happen in a therapist’s office. There is so much to learn about yourself and your mental health both in and out of a therapist’s office. And if you haven’t yet begun your therapy journey give us a call. New clients are always welcome at Keri Powell Therapy.