5 things to do after a hard session

Therapy can be hard. It takes a lot out of you and can even have you feeling worse than when you started (hopefully in a productive way). But sometimes you can be at a loss for what to do after a particularly difficult session. Here are five suggestions.

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1. Journaling

Write down your thoughts and feelings about the session. Sometimes getting it out on paper takes the edge off what you are feeling. It allows your mind to let go of the stress more easily because the information is now external. This strategy also allows you to look back at what you wrote at a later time, maybe in the next session. A lot of good content can come from that.

2. Self-care

If you were not feeling well physically, you would hopefully spend some time taking care of yourself. The same should go if you are emotionally exhausted. Do things that make you feel better. Go for a walk. Take a hot bath. Eat comfort foods. If the things you do involve taking care of your body, all the better. Physical and mental health are closely linked (read more here).

3. Distraction

Sometimes you just need to get your mind off of what’s upsetting you. Do something else that requires your attention. Watch a movie. Put together a puzzle. Try making a new recipe. Don’t try to avoid what you’re dealing with. That won’t fix anything. But it’s perfectly healthy to set it aside for a bit while you recuperate. 

4. Enjoyment

Things that make us happy can help dissipate lingering negative emotions. Focusing on something you love for a while can be very calming and healing. Play your favorite sport. Go to a concert. Have a good conversation with a friend whose company you enjoy. There’s a time to work on hard things, but there is also time to savor what life has to offer.

5. Expression

Similarly to journaling, this is all about getting what’s inside of you out into the open. Just take what you are thinking and feeling and put it in a different form. This can include making art, storytelling, dancing, acting, creating music and crafting. Use a medium you are comfortable with or explore something new. You never know what will come out of it.

What do you do after a tough session? Trade ideas in the comments.