What kind of 'topics' can I discuss during therapy?

It's my first time going to therapy and I had 2 sessions now. I have GAD and when I first came to my therapist, it was quite severe. However, over the weeks, I became better. During my 2nd session, I feel that I can cope with my initial anxiety and that I may not want to discuss about it until I can say that the technique I'm doing is not working / I'm becoming worse.

However, I have other issues also which I didn't bring up during my first session because they weren't major concerns at that time. Since my first issue is somehow fading, am I allowed to bring up other issues? These issues aren't 'life-threatening' unlike my GAD but since I'm in the presence of a therapist, might as well bring them up.

Is it okay to bring up everyday concerns to you your therapist? Not necessarily those related to an actual mental disorder but perhaps negative thinking patterns and other things causing you stress.

I like to think that you can talk about whatever you want to during Therapy sessions.

You can bring up whatever you want. If you want to talk about something else, then that's totally okay.

I usually write down in my notebook current stressors and past stuff, and then discuss it with her, that makes it easier and i dont forget stuff.

I like the idea of writing things down. I may have to do that too. But to answer the OP's question, I'd imagine you can talk about whatever you'd like.

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And don't forget you can always change the subject if it gets too uncomfortable. Just say something like: I'd rather not talk about that anymore. Sometimes certain things come out sloooowwwlllyyy. Good luck with your therapy.

Since it's my first time doing this thing and I went to see the therapist during a severe episode, I feel like my other issues are not therapy-worthy. Is there such a thing?

When I visited the center, I see other clients who seem to be normal compared to what I was when I first went there (that time I couldn't eat / work / sleep / crack a smile / do very basic stuff & had panic attacks the whole day). I'm almost non-functional.

Hence, if others are functional and they still go to therapy, what kind of issues are they usually talking about? I have other issues but was able to go through life without needing the advice of a therapist. But now that I have a therapist, I'm having this urge to tell all of my issues.

Also, I'm having the sessions for free so I feel guilty prolonging the sessions for issues that aren't severe. If I'm paying, then, I'd feel some entitlement. They do accept donations and I definitely would donate but it's still different if I'm paying per session.

I'm not sure if I'm just over-thinking this.

My T told me I can talk about anything... the BIG... The small and every thing in between.
btw.... love your name

You can talk about WHATEVER you want, therapy is there for you to speak what's on your mind, even if you just want to talk about your week and what you bought when you went to the grocery store for an hour
Therapy is what you make it, as is life, so don't hold anything back. I've learnt that the hard way.

I hope therapy goes well for you.

T and i talk about anything and everything.

I have now discussed with the T other topics and she said it's okay to talk about anything. My question now is, for not-so-serious matters, how often should I meet the T? Previously, I was meeting her every 2 weeks. Then once a month. Is once a month okay? Or should I just give her a call on an 'as needed' basis rather than a fixed schedule?

Maybe it would be worth discussing the fact that you don't feel worthy of being heard unless your problems are life-threatening.

In my experience the real work of therapy cannot take place when you are in the kind of crisis you described above. I have had to be on more solid ground emotionally and have developed a real relationship with my therapist to work on the issues that underlie the desperate overwhelming symptoms of mental illness.

You can ask you T about the mandate of the organization where you receive counselling. Is it brief crisis intervention only or do they work on other stuff too? Are you limited to a certain number of sessions?

I think that public funds (or charitable donations) are well spent on therapeutic work beyond crisis intervention. If you need to look at this way, think of the societal dividends that your therapy could reap: fewer absentee days, more employee productivity, less use of healthcare resources, and better-parented children just to name a few!

ETA: just saw your last post. I don't think less than every two weeks is enough. I also think it's hard to get at the underlying problem if you're only there on an as needed basis. But that's just me!