How to Be More Productive in Your Therapy Sessions

Do you want to learn how to be more productive while talking to your therapist? You might feel that time is running fast during your sessions, and you don’t have enough time to address everything you want. Or, you might feel like you’re forgetting everything you’ve talked about as soon as you leave the office. Whatever the reason, being productive in your therapy sessions is very beneficial for you.

Productivity can provide you with structural support when it comes to healing. You can focus on what’s best for you instead of worrying about forgetting to bring something up or memorizing your therapist’s words. Ultimately, the goal of therapy is to enhance your mental and emotional health, and productivity can be a huge aid in the process.

Productivity Hacks for Your Next Therapy Session

You might be preparing yourself for your first therapy session, or you’ve been going for a while. In either case, you can start being productive before, during, and after talking to your therapist.

Before the Session

Are you one of these people who’s rushing into your therapist’s office or opening that meeting link in your calendar without catching a breath? Well, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate this approach. Preparing yourself for therapy eliminates the stress and helps you concentrate on what will happen during the session.

Before each session, give yourself five to ten minutes to prepare tea, coffee, or water; go to the bathroom; and tidy up and organize the space around you. In the time between sessions, make sure you write down the events or thoughts you’d like to share with your therapist.

When it comes to productivity hacks before the session, consider these:

Setting clear goals: Define what you wish to address or achieve in each therapy session (e.g., event, emotion or feeling, memory, relationship, etc.).
Keep a therapy journal: Write down all your events, thoughts, and emotions in one place. It helps you track your progress and go back to the past moments when necessary.
Track patterns: You can use a journal or write notes in an app, yet tracking recurring triggers, behaviors, or emotions can help you address those issues with your therapist.
Prepare topics: If there is something that crosses your mind, write it down and read it before the session to see whether or not you want to talk about it.

During the Session

Productivity really pays off during your therapy sessions. During the session, your therapist will provide advice and ask the right questions. Making sure you pay attention to and memorize their words will be valuable to you later as well. You might come across the same situation as you did a few months ago, and checking your notes from that session might save you time and energy.

When it comes to productivity hacks during the session, consider these:

Be transparent: Therapy is your safe space, and you should motivate yourself to speak freely about your thoughts and emotions. Allow yourself to explore uncomfortable topics and dig deeper into them.
Ask questions: If something is unclear or you want to discuss the topic more profoundly, ask your therapist to explain or provide examples.
Take notes: You don’t have to write everything during the session. Write key insights, phrases, coping strategies, or ideas that you or your therapist mentioned.

After the Session

You should take five to ten minutes after the session, just like you do before it. Take a moment to absorb everything that was said after you leave your therapist’s office or end the online call. We often forget to reflect on our experiences because we’re so focused on what’s next. Taking a moment to take care of yourself after therapy should become a part of your routine.

When it comes to productivity hacks after the session, consider these:

Reflect: Think about what you said and heard, and how it could be used in daily life.
Implement: Apply the coping mechanisms or techniques recommended.
Notice progress: Track improvement or emotional shifts you notice as a result of therapy.
Provide feedback: Share with your therapist how you felt afterwards and what changes you’ve noticed or managed to implement after the session.

Overcoming Common Challenges

You may notice certain challenges when it comes to your first efforts to become more productive in your therapy sessions. The lack of productivity can make it seem like you’re not benefiting from your therapy as much as you’d like. Applying all the tips mentioned above allows you to see a clear overview of your healing process. You can see how you felt months ago, which triggers you had, and what new techniques your therapist was suggesting. You can compare that information with the present situation and see what has improved.

Being more productive, especially writing down and reflecting, enables you to manage more efficiently intense feelings during and after sessions. Once you start applying these suggestions, you will notice so many benefits.

You will feel more concentrated and prepared for your next session. You will pay closer attention to your therapist’s words. You will notice how the work from therapy shows up in your daily situations with minimal conscious effort. All of this is possible due to the progress made during your therapy sessions.

In Final Words

You don’t have to use all of our productivity tips at once. Make notes for your next therapy session, and after you’re done, take some time to think back on it. Doing it all at once could overwhelm you and make it feel like a systematic rather than emotional process.

Also, not all techniques work for all people. Some might prefer to track progress in their therapy journals, while others prefer writing key words and phrases on sticky notes and having them where they can see them. It’s up to you to decide which of these ideas can help you become more productive. After all, you will enjoy its benefits!

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About Life Coaching and Therapy

Life Coaching and Therapy (LCAT) is a therapy and coaching practice that transforms our clients lives through our flexibility multi-technique approach and pleasure-skills training provided by systematically trained and licensed therapists!

Get to know our founder and owner, Amanda Pasciucco, (a.k.a. The Sex Healer) PhD, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) who has developed innovative therapy programs and therapy videos that get results.

Our team of compassionate, licensed therapists and certified sex therapists helps all clients who visit us for a variety of personal, relationship, intimacy and sex problems.

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