In psychotherapy, there isn't a specific standard for what issues you should talk about during a session, as it depends on your unique circumstances, challenges, and goals. However, there are some general guidelines that can help you sort out what topics to discuss:
Identify your emotions: Pay attention to your feelings throughout the week, and note any patterns or intense emotions. These emotions can provide clues about what might be important to discuss in therapy.
Explore recurring problems or challenges: If there are specific issues that keep coming up in your life and causing distress, they could be essential topics to address in therapy.
Prioritize what's impacting your daily life: Consider what issues are affecting your day-to-day functioning, relationships, work, or overall well-being. These areas may be worth discussing in therapy.
Reflect on life changes or significant events: Life transitions, major changes, or significant events (e.g., loss, job change, moving) can be topics worth exploring in therapy, as they can trigger various emotions and adjustments.
Consider relationship dynamics: If you are facing challenges in your relationships with family, friends, or partners, discussing these dynamics in therapy can be beneficial.
Review goals and progress: If you have specific goals for therapy, evaluate your progress and discuss any obstacles you've encountered.
Explore self-esteem and self-worth: Discussing feelings of self-doubt, self-criticism, or struggles with self-acceptance can be helpful in understanding underlying issues.
Address unresolved past experiences: Past traumas or unresolved issues from the past may be affecting your current emotional well-being and relationships.
Discuss coping strategies and stress management: Talk about how you handle stress and difficult emotions and explore healthier coping strategies.
Be open and honest with your therapist: Trust your therapist and be open about your thoughts and feelings, even if they are difficult to discuss. Your therapist can help you navigate through these feelings.
Remember, therapy is a safe space where you can explore various aspects of your life and emotions. There's no right or wrong topic to bring up in therapy, and it's okay to take your time in discussing what feels most relevant and pressing to you at the moment. Your therapist is there to support you, and they can help guide the conversation if you're uncertain about where to start. As therapy progresses, you may find that different issues become more important to address, and that's entirely normal. Trust the process and allow yourself to be open to self-exploration and growth.