How common is crying in therapy?
Emotions play a vital role in how we process and make sense of our experiences, and ought to be more embraced by our culture. They provide us with valuable information about our environment and help us to navigate through life’s challenges as they can notify us when boundaries are being crossed or when something isn’t okay. When we experience positive emotions such as joy and contentment, we are more likely to feel motivated and engaged in our daily activities and find delight in these experiences. Negative emotions such as sadness and anger can also be helpful, as they allow us to identify and address problems in our lives, so it is good to take note of these feelings as well.
Research has shown that emotions can also aid memory and learning, so they are also very critical for healthy lives. When we experience a strong emotional response to an event, our brain releases chemicals that can help to cement that experience into our long-term memory, thus why when trauma happens you may need to talk with a therapist to help you rewire your brain to properly process these experiences.
In addition to aiding memory, emotions can also help us to make better decisions as we can use what we’ve learned from the past and apply it to our future choices. When we experience a gut feeling, it is often based on our emotional response to a situation where maybe we made poor choices. These feelings can help us to make quick and accurate judgments, even when we don’t have all the information, yet are faced with a choice. For instance, if we feel uneasy about a person or situation, our emotions may be warning us of potential danger, and this can be known as discernment or a gut feeling.
Therefore, is it okay to cry during therapy sessions? Yes, it is okay and it is not an uncommon occurrence since you are usually talking about difficult experiences, emotions, and past traumas. Many people find themselves overwhelmed with emotions during therapy, and crying can be a natural response to those feelings. In fact, some therapists even view crying as a positive sign, as it can indicate that the patient is making progress in their emotional processing and possibly finding healing from past experiences that they haven’t been able to let go of.
There are a variety of reasons why someone might cry during therapy such as, people might cry as they discuss traumatic experiences from their past, while others might cry as they work through difficult relationship issues they are currently experiencing. Others might cry simply because they feel comfortable and safe enough to express their emotions in front of a therapist and finally be sharing life from their perspective.
Despite the fact that crying in therapy is common, some people might feel embarrassed or ashamed of their tears, but it is okay to feel and process your life experiences however you need. Therefore, it’s important to remember that crying is a natural part of the healing process, and therapists are trained to handle emotional reactions in a supportive and non-judgmental way, so feel free to enter into your therapy sessions with confidence knowing you are safe to express yourself.
Reasons why it’s okay to be emotional during therapy:
- Emotions are a natural and important part of the healing process, and it is encouraged to go through these feelings as it can help you find deeper healing. Suppressing emotions can actually hinder progress in therapy, to know you are safe to fully feel, process, and express your heart in therapy.
- Crying can be a release of built-up tension and stress, leading to a sense of relief and catharsis, to know this is normal and good to do sometimes.
- Emotions provide valuable insight into our inner selves and can help identify underlying issues that need to be addressed in therapy, these are God-given and can help you identify moments you were mistreated or abused.
- A therapist is trained to handle and support clients through emotional moments, creating a safe and non-judgmental space for them to express themselves, including crying.
It’s also worth noting that not everyone will cry during therapy, even if they are going through a difficult time, and this is also okay. Everyone processes emotions differently, and some people might express their feelings in other ways, such as through anger or physical symptoms, while others may need to cry to find relief from their life journey thus far. Ultimately, the goal of therapy is to help people feel more in control of their emotions and their lives, while also finding deeper healing from past or present experiences. And if that means shedding a few tears along the way, that’s perfectly okay and normal.
