Staying Open in Therapy for Women
Therapy for women might be a completely new experience for you. Sitting in a room with someone who, initially, is a complete stranger, planning to bare your soul to them, being totally transparent and feeling accepted, and expecting that they will keep these intimate details of your life confidential and private. As women, many of us crave this sort of intimate relationship, to feel connected in a deep and authentic way to another being. So how do we begin? First and foremost, we must be open. Being open and vulnerable requires trusting the process. Trusting that our experience will be valued. Therapy for women is the perfect place to practice this.
How do we do this? Something to remember when beginning therapy is to give some thought to where you want to end up. What are your goals for therapy? How will you know when the therapy process is complete for you? What skills would you like to learn to help live a more full and happy life? Either individually or with your therapist, identifying your goals and making them realistic and attainable will help create the map of your therapy journey.
Being open in therapy also means being authentic with your thoughts, experiences, and needs. It’s normal to wonder what your therapist is thinking of you or a situation you’re describing, so if your mind begins to drift there, IT’S OK! If you find yourself having these thoughts, try to bring your attention back to the present moment and just be you. Your purpose is not to impress, entertain or be “good enough” for your therapist. You are good enough to us already!
In today’s world, a lot of focus is placed on how a woman is viewed.
Is she pretty? Is she in shape? Is she too confident? Is she too quiet? Is she a mother yet, and if not why? Therapy is one place that you can feel free to be perfectly you in all of your unfiltered glory, and to be anything other than yourself in therapy will keep you from seeing its benefits. If these feelings arise it can be very rewarding to actually address them in therapy. Therapy is a microcosm of the real world and learning the underlying drives for your actions in therapy can help you change what happens outside of therapy.
Preparation can also help keep you open.
By no means does this mean scripting what you’ll say in session, but set time aside before your meeting to check in with yourself. Ask questions like: How am I feeling today? What have I been struggling with lately? What has or has not been working to improve my mood or stress? By understanding the topics you’d like to discuss during your session, it will help you get the most out of the appointment and focus on areas that need your attention.
Honesty plays one of the biggest parts in staying open in therapy.
Maybe you’ve been experiencing an issue in your sex life and feel uneasy sharing this intimate part of your life. Maybe you reverted back to old habits that you and your therapist have been trying to break you out of. Maybe you were given a homework assignment and didn’t, or couldn’t, complete it. It’s ok, and your therapist will not be upset. Remaining honest, even when it’s uncomfortable, will help you grow. Your therapist is not an authority figure in your life, but an ally to help you reach your goals and live your best life. Sharing mistakes or failures with them will help create new strategies to improve, so don’t be afraid to be honest.
Remaining open in therapy can be tough, but it’s crucial to taking full advantage of the process. Allowing yourself to be in the moment and authentic can help you gain a better understanding of yourself and reach your therapeutic goals. As women, we might find ourselves putting a lot of effort into how the world sees us. We have been conditioned to show less emotion. Maybe we have been taught that our experience is less valid or has been frequently dismissed. In therapy you can finally let your guard down. Therapy is a safe place where your experience is valued and you can be met exactly where you are. In therapy you can be your true self, and even learn how to do this more often in everyday life outside of therapy. By Meigan Fernendez
You can live a life of authenticity and openness. Getting started with therapy for women in St. Petersburg is easier than it might seem. Taking this first, important step is critical for your health and healing. You can get the mental health support you need with a caring therapist. To begin, just follow these simple steps:
- Contact us to request an appointment
- Meet with a caring, professional therapist knowledgeable about women’s issues throughout the lifespan.
- Begin your journey to a more confident, fulfilled life today
Other Mental Health and Wellness Services at ME-Therapy
Therapy can take many forms. At our St. Petersburg therapy & wellness clinic, we want to will help your mind but also want to feed your soul. This means our therapists and wellness team take a holistic approach to your wellbeing. In order to do this, our therapists offer individual therapy for women, therapy for men, trauma therapy, therapy for anxiety, art therapy and holistic, spiritual therapy. In addition to standard marriage counseling & couples therapy, our relationship therapists also provide sex therapy, affair recovery counseling and poly-friendly kink aware therapy.
All of these services can be provided in-person at our St. Petersburg, FL counseling clinic or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Florida. If you have any questions about therapy, please visit our FAQ page! Also, you may consider reading more of our blog posts to get to know us a bit better. Finally, thank you for allowing ME-Therapy to be a part of your life journey!
