We all need and benefit from therapists when we're dealing with challenges that are greater than we can deal with on our own. There is no shame in seeing a therapist.
Too often we delay seeing a therapist and thereby prolong our suffering and delay our healing. Our delay not only harms us, it harms those who care about us. I know this from both my professional and personal experiences.
Whether we need a physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychotherapist, or some other kind of therapist, we need our therapists to be excellent therapists.
The following list is not exhaustive. However, it does list fourteen things I believe excellent therapists do.
Excellent therapists-
1. Give you a safe, confidential place in which to talk about what is important to you.
2. Attend to, serve, and take care of you while you're doing your healing work.
3. Listen to you and make sure that you know they are listening.
4. Empathize: see from your perspective and feel your feelings with you.
5. Validate your feelings and comfort you.
6. Reflect back to you what you express in order to help you better understand yourself and your experiences.
7. Help you make informed, constructive decisions about how to make your way forward.
Part Two of 14 Things Excellent Therapists Do for You will complete the list.
What do you think of the list so far? Would you add or remove anything from the first seven items on my list?
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