“We’ve heard everything.
It won’t shock us (unless maybe it’s someone new to the field).
Even if it’s a unique circumstance, we’ll get the underlying feeling behind it.”
For some, deciding to go to therapy is the hardest part of the process.
For others, it’s finding an affordable therapist.
In reality, therapists have heard it all.
“Anything having to do with sex.
I try not to have a strong reaction to normalize the discussion.”
u/MyDogCanSploot
2. u/GuidedBySteven
3.
“Unwanted intrusive thoughts are normal and do not mean you are a bad person.
The occurrence of these thoughts, images, and urges is normal.
I usually say something like, ‘OK, mind!
Thanks for that, mind!
u/cbearg
4.
I highly recommend opening up about this part of your experience.
smolda
5. u/oreganick
6.
“Complicated grief and survivor’s guilt.
This often comes up in relatives of those with substance abuse disorders and in caretakers.
For instance, complicated grief can come when families lose someone suddenly due to substance abuse.
This relief then triggers guilt.
megans4aa65ed14
7.
People grieve in all sorts of ways.
The five stages of grief are bullshit.”
“I was consulting with another clinician who was seeing a couple whose daughter had died.
They both ended up working it out.
It was really sweet.”
u/sredac
8.
“They ‘hear voices.’
I’ve found that many people aren’t familiar with their internal dialogue or ‘self-talk.’
This is typically ‘normal’ internal processing.
A lot of people think that they are ‘hearing voices’ and hallucinating.
I also want to clarify that not everyone has an internal ‘voice.’
That’s normal, too!”
u/whateverlolawants
9.
There is deep and profound shame in this.
“We deal with this almost daily.
Cultural psychology is also very important.
u/leonilaa
10. u/mkthompson
11.
“That they do not know what they enjoy doing.
Many people I work with do not know what those are.
I couldn’t even count how many clients I’ve had this conversation with.
I have no idea what I like to do.
That’s part of the problem.'”
u/ljrand
12.
“Being tired of being a mother.
It is normal just to want to take a break once in a while from all that responsibility.”
u/niatpackcalb
13.
It starts for a lot of people in their 40s and 50s.”
u/Chininja1
14.
Humans aren’t robots, and therapy is a lot of work.
It takes time to commit to change, especially about trauma or conflicted views that an individual holds.”
u/DnDYetti
15.
“I work with a lot of anxiety and trauma clients.
that we become aware of our body’s reaction before we notice the anxious thoughts triggering the reaction.
“Anxiety is like an alarm system in our bodies to signal the presence of actual or perceived danger.
What would you do if your alarm was going off at your house?
It’s also important to note that danger doesn’t need to be getting a gun pulled on you.
u/pomp_le_mousse
16.
“I do a lot of trauma work.
Many people who have experienced molestation or sexual assault feel ashamed and confused because their bodies responded.
“Clients often hold a lot of shame and confusion about this.
They wonder if it means they wanted it or something is wrong with them.
It is a tough thing to work through because of this.
Sometimes human bodies respond to sexual touch even when we don’t want that touch.”
u/roomforathousand
And a response to this, “Someone once said it’s like tickling.
You laugh when you get tickled even though you don’t want someone to tickle you.”
u/Doofus_is_the_Name
17.“Hallucinations.
First off, disorders in which hallucinations are common (schizophrenia, schizoaffective, etc.)
are not life sentences.
Most people live perfectly normal lives with therapy and/or medication.
Second, hallucinations are a symptom of so many other common mental conditions.
Manic episodes can bring audio and visual hallucinations, as well as deep depressive episodes.
You’d be amazed at the weird shit your brain will do if you’re anxious enough!
There are also spiritual and cultural connotations.
“As long as it’s not causing distress or harm to anyone, it’s not a problem.
If it is distressing, tell your therapist.
We’ll deal with it like we would any other mental health symptom.”
taylynngabbey
18.
“I work in an older adults service for people with dementia and mental health problems.
No one is superhuman, and we all have our own needs.
It’s why we have therapy groups for carers.
u/aron24carat
19. u/TheViciousThistle
20.
I’m a psychologist in the US.
And, in my opinion, if you surprise your therapist, that is okay.”
u/ImAPsychoLogist
21.
“A common one is simply, ‘I don’t know.’
‘I’m empty and aching, and I don’t know why.'”
u/kutuup1989
22.
“A common one is ‘secret feelings.’
Private daydreams and sexual fantasies.
It’s so common it has a name!”
u/my_other_throwaway90
23.
“OCD gets misunderstood a lot.
It’s not just having a clean house or liking things to be organized.
u/darkblue15
24.
“Some of the most common ones have been visual and auditory hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.
u/KDay5161
25.
They’re worried I’d be disappointed in them.
It usually becomes a discussion about policing other people’s feelings and toleratingemotions.
“For example, they cut one night or were suicidal.
They’re having a lot of negative self-talk or panic attacks.
They’ll come in, pretending everything is okay.
Both are something I hear from clients daily, so I don’t find it weird at all.”
u/HighKeyHotMess
27.
“I’ve had clients too scared to tell me their accomplishments.
u/sadbisexualbean
28.
“Recurring intrusive thoughts about harming others.
They can be about hurting or killing someone or sexual fantasies about children or relatives.
People usually take a while to admit those.
u/omg1337haxor
29.
“I was a mental health professional, not a therapist, who did case management work.
The big one for me was always drug use.
My clients would go through so much to hide it from me.
The other big one people always venture to hide is relationship problems.
Honestly, I was only ever worried about ensuring they were okay.”
nikola2393
30.
“Hidden sexual dreams and fantasies about family members.
They are more common than people think.
They often stay that way and don’t interfere in the person’s close relationships unless they allow it.
u/Honey_Snack_9299
31.
“Usually, it’s sex-related.
Shame about their desires or kinks is common.
Gender questioning is another.
“We have heard everything.
I’m always compassionate and understand why we do what we do.
I’ve yet to have anyone bring something I don’t ‘get.'”
u/throwaway4u2021
32.
“Sex therapist here: Your fantasies are normal.
A huge part of my work is helping people normalize their sexuality and desires.
Don’t be afraid to talk about it; I’ve heard it all.”
u/Seeking_Starlight
33.
“The number of people who are unaware of their own emotions and emotional process is astounding.
So many people feel only ‘angry’ or ‘happy’ and worry something must be wrong with them otherwise.
Normalizing feeling the whole gamut is just as important.”
As a whole, how we treat emotions as a society is kinda fucked.”
“Speaking to their departed loved ones.
“I encourage my clients to explore the continuation of their relationships with the deceased.”
u/Eachfartisunique
35.
“Everything, dude, everything.
You name it, I’ve heard it.
Do you regret having your child and wish you never became a mom?
Yeah, I get that.
Shit, it’s been a hard year.
Do you want to quit your well-paying job to sell carved soap figurines?
OK, well, let’s talk through what that might look like.
Do you like to collect teddy bears because they give you a special little tingle in your nether regions?
I don’t kink-shame.”
We’ve heard everything.
Humans do the best they can, and therapists are there to help.
But we can’t provide guidance if you don’t give us a chance, which means opening up.
I know it’s scary, and some therapists do suck.
It’s a lot like dating.
TheNational Eating Disorders Associationhelpline is 1-800-931-2237; for 24/7 crisis support, text NEDA to 741741.
Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.
