Dear Client, I Want You to Know this About Therapy

A letter from your therapist.

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Dear Client,

Before we start this journey together, I want you to know that it takes courage to ask for support, and I appreciate you trusting me with your story. I will work hard to help you heal. I promise to gently guide you through this process while challenging you to grow.

I want you to know that therapy is not easy, and you may feel worse before you feel better. Therapy is like cleaning a wound. There is often pain associated with the scrubbing, but once it is clean, it heals faster. Your sleep concerns or mood disturbances might initially get worse, but that is usually a sign you are working hard in therapy. Discomfort is often part of healing.

I want you to know that I won’t have all the answers to your questions, but I will work with you to find them. Together, we will identify your strengths and work on your challenges. This is a collaborative process and we are stronger as a team. I will provide the tools for creating the life you want, and I need you to consistently use them, both in and out of the therapy session. Change will only come with patience and practice.

I want you to know that I can’t be your friend. There will always be an imbalance in our relationship where I will know more about you than you know about me. You don’t need to hear my story because it is not important to your healing. I expect that you will be curious about my life and may wonder what I think about you as a person. This is normal, and I would be curious too! But, that is not how this relationship works, and I hope that I will be more valuable to you as a therapist than as a friend.

I want you to know that I’m human. There will be days when I will surprise both of us with my insightful interpretations, and there will be other sessions I might miss the mark. I’m your psychologist, but I’m also a mother, wife and daughter. There may be a time when I need to change our appointment due to family responsibilities. This does not indicate a lack of care or commitment, it is merely the result of a full life. Your growth and healing continues to be a priority and I will see you again for our next session.

I want you to know that this relationship is not long-term. There will be a time when our work together is finished. It can be difficult when relationships end, but please know that I found our time together to be valuable and I will not forget you.

Thank you for inviting me to take this journey with you.

Sincerely yours,

Jill