How to know if you’re making progress in therapy?
Whether you’re heading into your first therapy session or you’ve been in counseling for years, it’s important to have an awareness of if it’s actually WORKING. Are you able to pinpoint ways that you have actually grown or changed? What can you do today that you couldn’t do a year ago?
The way in which you and your therapist establish landmarks in your treatment plan can make or break your overall experience and motivation.
But sometimes the little landmarks might be overlooked…and they are helpful examples of success worth noting. All client progress looks different and there are many ways in which we might overlook little changes. Check in with yourself by reflecting on the following points.
Which of the following are part of your progress journey?
Learning how to use words instead of running away or crying.
Making direct eye contact with the therapist.
Driving somewhere without a panic attack.
Leaving the house and going out to the yard.
Wearing shorts & short sleeves.
Not having your child cuss you out for a whole day.
Taking a shower.
Not having sex with a random person when craving companionship.
Answering a question directly instead of shrugging.
Making a patient, wise decision rather than an emotional decision.
Not crying on the way to an appointment.
Getting the correct medication.
Not resisting when it’s time to leave.
Being able to maintain a healthy relationship.
Following through on a boundary.
Talking and expressing your feelings.
Not feeling guilty for saying “no.”
Improving grades, behavior, focus…etc.
Reading a book laying on your back (vulnerable position).
Giving up some control.
Focusing on the present conversation without shouting.
Moving from weekly to bi-weekly sessions.
Moving from bi-weekly to monthly sessions.
Moving from monthly to quarterly sessions.
Continuing to show up.
What might you add to this list? The main idea is to know that everyone’s healing starts SOMEWHERE and that somewhere always looks different.
It’s all progress. All ages. All stages. This is how people start to heal. There is no formula. There is no template. No timeline. Some still remain here. Some are far beyond. I will never know where most of my clients end up. But for all of them, I am hopeful.
Just keep showing up. Keep healing.
