Physical and emotional safety are essential to the therapeutic process. If you have been in counseling before, think of what made you feel comfortable and relaxed in the room. If you are considering meeting with a therapist for the first time, think of what you would want in that space in order to feel at home. I can guess that you would want to feel protected and safe, as you begin to share personal details with a counselor. Therapy can be a safe place to share one’s thoughts, feelings, worries, and even secrets.
Helping clients feel safe is very important to me. I honor client’s stories and encourage them to start wherever they would like. As sessions continue, I help clients ground themselves and focus their attention and behaviors by becoming more aware of their surroundings. What are you feeling right now specifically? Can you name three things you see in the room? Do you notice any tension in your neck or back, or do you feel your heart racing?
It is not uncommon for clients to feel overwhelmed in a new therapy setting. Has this happened to you before? Maybe you have shared an uncomfortable part about your past or experienced a mild panic attack in session while recalling some of your past trauma. How did your therapist respond? And if you have never been in counseling before, if something like this happened to you, how would you want me to respond? Empathy and active listening are excellent ways to reestablish safety. In moments of tension or when a client is wishing they could run away and hide, I aim to affirm their feelings. It is normal to feel that way, and you are certainly allowed to express fear or worry with me. This is a safe place for you to be vulnerable and to be yourself. It is my goal to solidify a trusting relationship with you in order to allow you to move towards healing and freedom.
