[tealBumblebee]

Could it be beneficial to write down how my weekly session goes?

I think it would be a useful reminder of important things that she tells me to remember when i'm down and a useful tool in helping me process sessions.

I also feel like it takes the confidentiality out of T sessions. No one would see it but i almost feel like the journal could be an unnecessary third party that would be unfair to T and maybe take something away from it all.

What do you think?

Note: i'm not referring to this being part of a "daily journal" - I feel like I talk about T too much in it and it's taking away from my 'rest of life thoughts'.

[HazelGirl]

A journal of what you talked about could be very beneficial. I'm actually thinking I will steal this idea and use it myself. Thanks!

[Victoria'smom]

I write to my therapist all the time after session. Telling her all the things I couldn't say in session.

[tealBumblebee]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I write to my therapist all the time after session. Telling her all the things I couldn't say in session.

Like a letter? Do you ever share them with her?

I'm thinking more of like just a 'what we discussed' type thing though and my immediate reactions.

[Leah123]

I do write session notes and I also share post-session revelations and concerns with her. I do find it very helpful, also somewhat reassuring.

[Rapunzel]

I used to keep a journal, or more like notes on what was discussed in each session. Therapists have their notes. I wanted to have my notes on my sessions. It helped me to remember things that I learned, and sometimes develop insights further. I'm glad that I did. I think that clients who write things down make a lot more progress than those who don't.

[looking4polaris]

I find it very helpful to make notes on sessions, though I don't always take the time to do it. It helps me reflect, organize my thoughts and gives me something to say when T asks me what my thoughts and feelings are about something we discussed.
I also try to pay attention to the times I don't journal about sessions. That could be a period of weeks, months or just a single session. There is usually a reason I'm avoiding it when I do.
For me, it is a way to keep the conversation alive (or not) between sessions.

[Mactastic]

After difficult sessions I email my T but save it as a draft and don't send it 95% of the time. Sometimes I print them out and glue into my journal. It's a little strange, but for whatever reason it helps.

[Freewilled]

Yes - I've kept record of each of my sessions since the beginning. I also sometimes write him letters during the week, write ideas that come to mind in-between, write poems, etc. I think it's helpful because I can look back and get insights that I didn't realize at the time as I make progress. I will say that I've never told my T about it or that I write him...sometimes I feel it's not good because he's not getting the full picture. But the alternative is that no one gets the full picture then since I can't tell him everything that crosses my mind. I figure if it helps me to get better, that's the whole point of the therapy process.

[SeekerOfLife]

Originally Posted by tealBumblebee

Could it be beneficial to write down how my weekly session goes?

I think it would be a useful reminder of important things that she tells me to remember when i'm down and a useful tool in helping me process sessions.

I also feel like it takes the confidentiality out of T sessions. No one would see it but i almost feel like the journal could be an unnecessary third party that would be unfair to T and maybe take something away from it all.

What do you think?


Note: i'm not referring to this being part of a "daily journal" - I feel like I talk about T too much in it and it's taking away from my 'rest of life thoughts'.

My T. encouraged me to start a journal to become more aware of how I was doing in certain areas. It did not take long before i started to include things she had said, or other noteworthy items.

[Jdog123]

I write an email to my T after almost every session. It helps me to recall what was said (sometimes I dissociate) and have her correct anything that I misinterpret, to process what we talked about, and to realize things that I'd like to talk about/continue talking about next session. I've done this for a while and when I don't do it (i.e., I have something long planned after therapy) it makes the session feel incomplete or something. My T does respond to what I write, which is helpful. But my writing an email is also helpful in itself.

[tealBumblebee]

Well one thing I've noticed in writing this session out; it so far has helped me feel 'contained' a little longer. I hadn't realized we covered a lot of things; I made a bullet list of things to go through and i'm on my second day of writing, on my 8th page and still have six more things to discuss. I'm starting to think this really IS quite a beneficial task!

I write notes during sessions, and then also 'after-session notes' as well. It's just too easy for me to forget the many things that we talk about. Especially when on the day we talk about something it might seem a little thing, and then a week later bam, hello, it wasn't so little after all and I'm glad I took notes! Then again I am writing all the time. lol