How can just talking help?

There are many answers to this question, but three that stand out for me. First, in counselling, talking takes place within a framework of time, place, and confidentiality. This gives you the freedom to talk about whatever you need to—probably things you wouldn’t usually talk about; possibly things you have never spoken about before. This can feel enormously freeing, and often clients will say they feel a little lighter, even after just one session. Second, you are talking with someone who is trained to listen and respond to you in a therapeutic way rather than a social way. This helps you to slow down and be curious about what is going on in relation to yourself, your present, your past, and your relationships. Third, whether you are talking or not, just being with an empathic person who really wants to understand you has a physiological impact on your body; your threat response is reduced, and you experience a sense of safety. When you experience real empathy, you feel seen at a deep, felt level. So, yes, in counselling you are talking, but also so much more than this; you are exploring, connecting, feeling, experiencing, evaluating, and understanding… you.