Counseling sessions are often compared to heart-to-heart conversations with a close friend, but with a focus on empowering you rather than providing advice. Therapists are there to help you discover your own inner wisdom and make decisions that are right for you, rather than telling you what to do. You are the expert in your own life and know yourself better than anyone else, including your therapist. Therapists avoid giving direct advice because it could lead to unintended consequences and create dependency on the therapist for decision-making.
Therapists may offer suggestions and encouragement to help clients move forward and make their own choices. They can help clients build trust in themselves and their ability to make decisions, as well as explore different scenarios to better understand their fears and concerns. In cases where a client’s health or safety is at risk, a therapist may intervene, but for the most part, they should guide rather than instruct. Empowerment and coaching around trusting one’s intuition and reasoning are beneficial for healing and decision-making.
It is important to note if a therapist crosses a line and gives you direct advice, as this can create resentment and distrust in the therapeutic relationship. Communication is key, and clients should feel comfortable expressing their true feelings to their therapist. If the client-therapist relationship becomes unrepairable or no longer feels safe or trusting, it is okay to end the sessions and find a new therapist. Therapy should provide a safe space to explore inner life and wisdom without judgment, where the client remains in control of their own decisions.
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