having it written down even if it is just a bullet point list is helpful for me because then I can look at the list and determine what if anything I am ready to talk about. Sometimes I'll just look at the list for a long time and she'll pick up on how hard it is to talk about whatever I want to share. Other times, I say, nope not ready today and we move on. She then knows something big is bothering me but I'm not there yet.
Sometimes I just say I have something to talk about that I am nervous to talk about and we talk about my feelings around talking about it.
I've used an object as well to keep my hands busy or something I can touch for soothing. I'm tactile in that way.
Another thing I have used is a song, book, quote, picture... something that touches upon or reminds me of the item. I can talk about the item in terms of the issue and how they go together... then more just on the issue.
|