Communicating your needs and preferences to your therapist is essential for productive therapy sessions. Here are some steps to help you express your desire for more active engagement and feedback:
Reflect on your needs: Take some time to think about why you feel the need for your therapist to be more active and provide more feedback. Identify specific areas where you think more engagement would be helpful.
Choose an appropriate time: Find a suitable moment during a therapy session to discuss your feelings. It's best to address this early in the session, so you have ample time to talk about it.
Be honest and open: Be straightforward about your feelings and desires. Your therapist will appreciate your honesty and openness. Remember, therapy is a collaborative process, and they are there to support you.
Use "I" statements: Frame your feedback using "I" statements to express your thoughts and feelings without sounding accusatory. For example, say, "I would find it helpful if we could have more interactive discussions during the session" instead of "You're not being active enough in therapy."
Give examples: Provide specific instances when you felt that more engagement or feedback would have been beneficial. This can help your therapist understand your perspective better.
Express your expectations: Clearly communicate what you hope to achieve with increased engagement and feedback. This helps your therapist tailor their approach to meet your needs better.
Ask for clarification: If you're unsure about something your therapist said or did, don't hesitate to seek clarification. This will encourage open communication and mutual understanding.
Discuss your therapy goals: Share your therapy goals with your therapist and discuss how their active involvement and feedback can help you progress toward those goals.
Be open to compromise: Remember that therapy is a partnership. Your therapist may have their reasons for their current approach. Be willing to listen to their perspective and find a middle ground that works for both of you.
Encourage feedback: Let your therapist know that you welcome their feedback as well. This helps create a more open and collaborative therapeutic environment.
Remember that therapy is about creating a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings. A good therapist will appreciate your feedback and be willing to adjust their approach to better meet your needs. If, for any reason, you feel your concerns are not being heard or addressed, you may consider discussing this further or exploring the possibility of finding a new therapist whose style aligns better with your preferences.