7 Topics That Are Proven to Deepen Your Counseling Sessions
Many people asked me, “Christine, what am I supposed to talk about in our sessions?”
Over the past few years, I have come across such a question countless times with some established patients.
They either worried that the information was important / relevant enough or simple feared judgment / rejection from the therapist if volunteering the “wrong” information.
Thus a lot of them chosen to be “directed” to kick start the session. If you have been to therapy, this probably sounds very similar.
Given their consideration, I usually invited them to give themselves permission to talk about “anything that pops into their mind” and leave their hesitation and worry out of the room.
The result? ALL patients ended up catching themselves “on the topic” by the end of session. Important and urgent matters came up naturally. What’s more important, they always shed light on something deeper to explore.
It never failed. Not even one single case.
Why?
Due to my clinical training and background, I have strong belief in human potential for positive self-direction that leads to self-actualization. (Umm……Yes, I am talking about Humanism and Existentialism. Pls read on for a simple explanation. )
Simply put, we human beings have an innate need for growth in all areas to life to strive for becoming who we identified with. If they are not doing so, something must have held them back.
This holds true in all of us. Luckily, we all have this yearning for genuine progress in various areas of life. Still remember the pain when we “feel trapped” and realize that we may not be able to become someone we want to be? How about the joy when you finally have that I-Made-It moment?
Second, our subconscious mind carries way more information than the conscious mind. It is the seat of our feelings, emotions and even patterns. When given permission in a non-judgmental environment, people tend to be amazed by this non-directive approach as to how much valuable but seemingly previously forgotten information was revealed.
I have seen case after case that the more clinical information available, the easier we see how one’s past has helped to shape their present.
Therefore, some deeply seated disturbing issues can be uprooted when the therapist humbly follows the lead of the client’s subconsciousness.
What does it feel like?
Please allow me to borrow my clients’ comments—
“Christine, it feels like something heavy was lifted off my chest/shoulder”.
“I feel light.”
“Finally I feel like I can breathe.”
Or simply a smile with relaxation……
So, let’s list the topics that can easily fire up your counseling sessions:
For general starters:
What occurs to you?
What is / was coming up for you when XX happened?
For Check-in: (a skilled therapist knows not only how to listen to you but also what to attend to)
What happened to you SINCE you last talked to your therapist? (Eg. conflicts, achievement, accidents, unexpected visual images, long-lost memories that just came back, certain feelings……)
How do you feel about last session? What do you think of it?
For Deeper Exploration: (to shed light on some patterns that may otherwise remain hidden)
Who did your therapist or others remind you of in your life?
How did he/she come across due to certain words/movements?
What is it in the session that triggered certain reaction inside of you?
So, next time, are you ready to share “whatever pops into your mind”?
(For those who had gone through this situation, please feel free to share your experience with us. Thanks!)
