As many of you know, I write a monthly article for Good Therapy as one of their Topic Experts. I mostly write about the process of psychotherapy and you can check out all the articles on my profile (skip down to the bottom for the list of articles).
This monthly contribution is called Silence Can Be Golden: Talk Therapy Without the Talking.
Therapists obviously often encourage people to talk. We want to hear your story so we can better understand you. This helps us help you–as well as knowing that expressing yourself is part of the process.
Sometimes, though, clients get caught up in an emotion–or caught up in not knowing what they feel, if anything. Those moments without talking, but remaining in the room together, can be powerful.
They can be
any (or all) of the above.
The point, though, is that it’s not pushed away.
We don’t stay in the silence, but giving that space allows for something unprepared to pop up. And dealing with the unprepared in the room can help increase your comfort with the unexpected.
Let me know what you think of the article and feel free to comment there or below.
Justin Lioi, LCSW is a men’s mental health and relationship expert. He practices counseling in Brooklyn, NY (and online throughout New York State and internationally.) He received his degree from New York University and has been working with men and their families for over 10 years. Justin is on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers and writes a weekly column for the Good Men Project called Unmasking Masculinity. He can be found on local and national podcasts talking about assertiveness, anger, self-compassion, all with the goal of becoming the man you want to be.