Inside the therapy session

What happensin a therapy session? There is an uncertainty and mystery about what a therapist does in the clinic with his patients.

First of all, psychology is a science based on testing and research. Psychology is much more than “I think this”. Therefore, we can already guarantee that psychotherapy is not a simple conversation, as you can have with a friend in a bar.

So why then do people think it’s the same as talking? Maybe ( and a big maybe here) is because when we let off steam, a catharsis occurs. What is a catharsis? It is a release of thoughts that are trapped. “I’ve been holding this for days”, “I need someone to vent to”. When we vent, there is an emotional release. It also helps to organize your thoughts better. So it’s effective.

However, venting is one of the many tools and methods that are used in therapy. Just as a song is made up of several notes: do, re, mi and their infinite variations.
As the patient talks about things, the psychotherapist works on what other psychology resources can help the patient in the short and long term.

What I find most amazing about this process is listening to what is being said, and examining and investigating and relating what is behind that speech. And then, raise a flag of investigation with the patient.

But what happens in a psychotherapy session?

This is a space where the patient will report their discomfort, pain, wounds, problems they face on a daily basis. Tell about certain events in their life from years ago or hours ago. Also, talk about how this affected them positively or negatively.

Each psychotherapist has his or her own way of working. However, what is usually sought to understand the patient’s life is when certain problems began in their lives.

There are times in therapy when the therapist asks more questions; or that the patient expresses freely about what comes to the mind. Still, it is the role of the psychotherapist to help the patient to find where the root (or roots) of pain is, and to help the patient to have the strength to change.

So don’t worry too much if you don’t know what to say to the therapist, especially in the first session.

In therapy, the psychotherapist will not label the patient with an illness but will understand their thoughts and feelings.

It will not judge the decisions made, but understand what drove those decisions.

In the session, you will not simply talk like a chat, but help to get rid of the knots of indecision, confusion and other difficulties in life.

The therapist will not tell you what to do or not to do, but to help navigate the new ideas built in sessions.