Client Insight: “I needed a plan to support myself for how I felt after a therapy session.”

If you are on your therapy journey—in one-on-one sessions, online courses like First Step, or other—we applaud you! It takes a lot of courage to open up and decide to actively work on yourself.

You might be finding that after a session you don’t feel 100%. You may walk away feeling sad, angry, exhausted or anything in between. And we want to reassure you that that is completely normal. It can be emotionally and physically draining to be vulnerable when looking at your behaviours and digging into your past trauma—some even call this feeling “a therapy hangover.”

Here’s how to not let these after appointment feelings stop you from doing this important work. Many clients have shared that there are specific things they do to give themselves comfort.

1. Book your appointment or time for your online course at the end of your work day. This means you don’t have to shift back into a work headspace immediately after, putting back on a “I’m fine” mask in front of others. If you can’t schedule time later in the day, try and block off time in your calendar after your session for at least 15 minutes of you time to breathe and transition back to work.
2. You might find that your need to emotionally eat skyrockets after a session—again this is normal! If you are in the habit of using food to numb uncomfortable feelings it absolutely makes sense that you would have cravings after 50 minutes of vulnerability. It is ok to give into it. Know that as you work through therapy you will become more resilient and you might find your emotional eating will become less and less as you use your sessions to let off the pressure of your emotions.
3. Writing in your journal might be the last you want to do after talking about your feelings and past in a session, but it can be helpful to leave everything on the page. After it is all out in ink, you and physically close the journal on the thoughts and your session, signalling it is ok to move forward.
4. Identify something easy you can do, that doesn’t take too much energy, that brings you a sense of comfort. A hot cup of tea or coffee, a bath, getting outside, or maybe reading a few pages of your book. These low energy tasks allow you to take care of yourself with just a small gesture.
5. Don’t be afraid to mention your post-therapy feelings to your therapist. Working through why and what you’re feeling together can make you feel supported and equipped to face it when you walk out the treatment room door. It also allows you and your therapist to come up with a plan to manage what comes after you meet.

If you feel overwhelmed, heavy, unable to do much after a therapy session, know that you are not alone. And know that it doesn’t mean therapy “isn’t working” for you, it is part of the process.

💛 Your peace awaits.