Things You Should Never Say To A Family Counselor

Going to counseling can be one of the best decisions that you make for your family. Whether you have a small issue within your family or you are facing major losses together, family counseling empowers you to connect with those you love the most in a new way. With the guidance of a caring therapist, you can learn many things about communicating with your loved ones and discover ways to strengthen your relationships. As you seek help through therapy, keep in mind these things that you should never say to a family counselor.

Don't Say That You Will Do Something You Won't Actually Do

Sometimes the easiest way to resolve family conflict within a therapy session is to agree to solutions that the counselor suggests. However, if you actually know that you won't follow through and do what is asked of you, never agree to it. That can only teach your family members that you won't keep promises made during counseling, and it can make future compromises more difficult. Instead, be honest. If you're not sure you can do something, offer an alternative or just stay in the moment without agreement.

Don't Say You Don't Want To Talk About It

When you are in a counseling session, don't dismiss the difficult topics. It's alright to put off some subjects for another session every now and then. When you do, though, talk to your therapist about when you will be willing to talk about it. The counselor may even make notes about the better time to discuss it. When possible, discuss all issues when they come up and don't dismiss things that your family members want to talk about simply because they're unpleasant. Instead, respond honestly and express how you feel. This is a safe place to express how you feel.

Don't Say You Agree When You Don't

It can be tempting to just go along with what the counselor says, even when you don't agree with it. If you think that the counselor is wrong, express it. You shouldn't hold in how you feel to simply get along with others during the counseling session, and that includes trying to placate your counselor. Express how you really feel and never pretend to agree to something when you don't. Lying hurts your chances of truly benefiting from the counseling session.

Finally, keep in mind that your time in counseling is important. Make it a priority to keep every counseling appointment and show up ready to give it your all. When you do that, you will likely find the experience to be very rewarding for all members of your family. If you think you can benefit from family counseling, turn to experts at companies like Fairbanks Counseling & Adoption.